Visual inspection apparatus and method of detecting substandard metal fasteners

Abstract

This invention discloses a visual inspection device and a method for detecting defective metal fasteners, enabling automated sorting and quality control of finished products in a perforated fastener production line. The device includes a perforated fastener conveying mechanism, a grading and inspection mechanism, a pushing mechanism, and a visual inspection system. Through the efficient coordination of mechanical equipment and intelligent algorithm technology, a closed-loop workflow for perforated fastener processing and judgment is formed. Perforated fasteners enter the forming die from the punch press and then flow orderly into the conveying mechanism for neat arrangement; after being positioned by guide rods and front and rear clamps, they enter the inspection area in batches; the pushing mechanism causes directional displacement of the fasteners, fully exposing them to the inspection position of the visual inspection system; the system uses image recognition and machine learning algorithms to determine the key quality indicators of the fasteners and outputs the judgment results; the rejection mechanism classifies and sorts the fasteners according to the results. This system and method effectively solve the problem of smoothly processing random and disorderly perforated fasteners, achieving multi-angle detection and accurate judgment of perforated fasteners.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automated inspection technology for metal fasteners, and specifically relates to a visual inspection device and method for detecting and rejecting defective metal fasteners, particularly suitable for the automated sorting and quality control of finished products with air pockets in air pocket production lines. This device and method, through the combination of a mechanical conveying structure and image recognition and machine learning algorithms, achieves smooth processing and accurate detection of high-throughput air pockets, significantly improving the automation level and pass rate of air pocket production. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional quality inspection of metal fasteners, especially pores, relies mainly on manual labor, resulting in a complex and inefficient process. Existing automated inspection methods suffer from the following problems: 1. After the air holes are output from the molding die, their state is chaotic and disordered, requiring operators to orient and arrange them, which consumes a lot of manpower; in addition, the direction and speed of the air holes flowing through the detection position change randomly, affecting the continuity and stable repeatability of the detection. 2. There are blind spots when the air vent passes through the detection area, and some minor defects may be missed and cannot be identified; 3. Sensors and simple image processing cannot adapt to the complex changes in the surface and internal structure of air pockets, resulting in a high error rate in judgment; 4. There are individual differences in the judgment criteria of operators, and the results of the pass rate judgment for the same batch of air holes may vary significantly.

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems, designing a novel visual inspection device and method is imperative. This device and method need to achieve the orderly arrangement and transport of air gaps, exposing each air gap to multiple angles for inspection. It should then utilize machine vision and deep learning algorithms to determine the pass / fail status of the air gaps, and simultaneously quickly eliminate defective products based on the judgment results. The key lies in the efficient coordination and application of mechanical equipment and intelligent algorithm technology. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a visual inspection device that, through the organic combination of mechanical devices and intelligent algorithm technology, achieves a revolution and upgrade in air gap processing from automated handling to quality control, significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of inspection and sorting.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution: a visual inspection device, comprising: The conveying mechanism includes a queuing trough and a telescopic rod mechanism, used to achieve neat single-row arrangement and quantitative rhythmic conveying of the air holes; The grading and testing mechanism includes guide rods and front and rear clamping blocks. The guide rods are used to position the air holes and guide the testing in batches. The pushing mechanism, comprising a push plate and a beveled cover, is used to push the detection section of the guide rod outward, enabling lateral display of the air hole; The visual inspection system is set at the detection position that is displayed to the side of the air hole. Based on image recognition and machine learning algorithms, it detects and analyzes the air hole from multiple angles.

[0006] Beneficial effects: The coordinated operation of each part enables the air holes to be neatly arranged, displayed from multiple angles, and automatically detected and analyzed, resulting in a smooth process, improved efficiency, shortened detection time, and reduced costs.

[0007] Preferably, the queuing trough has a trough-shaped structure with a flared opening at the top; the telescopic rod mechanism includes a compression spring and a thrust frame. The specialized design of the queuing trough and telescopic rod mechanism helps to organize disordered air holes, allowing them to flow into the detection area at a stable frequency, thus improving conveying efficiency.

[0008] As a preferred option, the visual inspection system employs image recognition and machine learning algorithms to achieve accurate judgment of individual air pockets. By applying cutting-edge technologies such as image recognition and machine learning, the pass / fail status of individual air pockets can be determined, enabling refined rejection and significantly reducing the false judgment rate.

[0009] To address the above-mentioned problems, this invention also provides a grading and testing mechanism, comprising: The guide rod, with its inlet end located at the circular hole where the air vent falls, guides the air vents sequentially into the detection area; The front and rear clamping blocks, driven by a screw and sliding through a dovetail groove, alternately clamp and release the guide rod section; The drive mechanism, including a drive screw and a motor, controls the movement of the front and rear clamping blocks, thereby controlling the flow of air through the air inlet; The pushing mechanism, when necessary, displaces a portion of the guide rod section and the air hole to facilitate inspection from multiple angles. Beneficial effects: The coordinated operation of multiple components enables sequential guidance, positioning, and multi-angle inspection and display of the air holes, making the entire inspection process efficient and accurate, and preventing missed inspections.

[0010] Preferably, the guide rod is composed of multiple independent components, and each detection segment can be pushed away from the array by a pushing mechanism. The detachable, multi-segment independent guide rod avoids mutual obstruction between components, ensuring comprehensive detection.

[0011] Preferably, the clamping surfaces of the front and rear clamping blocks match the shape of the air vent to ensure stable positioning. The precise matching of the front and rear clamping blocks with the air vent shape securely locks the workpiece under inspection, which helps improve the repeatability of the inspection.

[0012] To address the above-mentioned problems, this invention also provides a method for detecting air pockets, comprising the following steps: S1. By utilizing the air-hole conveying mechanism, the air holes are transformed from disordered to a neat, single-row arrangement; S2. Using a graded detection mechanism, the airflow is diverted and guided at specific points through guide rods and clamps; S3. The air hole is displaced by the pushing mechanism to facilitate detection from multiple angles; S4. Based on a visual inspection system, using image recognition and machine learning algorithms, determine the qualification of a single air hole; S5. Based on the visual inspection results, the air pockets are sorted by the rejection mechanism.

[0013] Preferably, the air-hole conveying mechanism includes a queuing trough and a telescopic rod mechanism.

[0014] Preferably, the grading detection mechanism includes front and rear clamping blocks for fixing the guide rod.

[0015] Preferably, the pushing mechanism includes a push plate that moves the guide rod, and the inclined cover is herringbone shaped.

[0016] In summary, the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art: The visual inspection device, grading inspection mechanism, and air hole detection method disclosed in this invention form a closed-loop system for automated air hole processing and quality control through the organic combination of mechanical devices and algorithm technology.

[0017] The carefully designed air hole delivery mechanism, positioning and guiding mechanism, and pushing mechanism work together to streamline the air hole detection process and expose the detection position of each air hole from multiple angles. The visual inspection system, which works in conjunction with this, uses high-precision image analysis and machine learning algorithms to determine the qualification of the air holes, and then the rejection mechanism accurately sorts them.

[0018] When the aforementioned systems and methods are applied in combination, the entire automated inspection and quality control process becomes scientific, smooth, fast, efficient, accurate, and controllable, significantly reducing blind spots in inspection and error rates. The cutting-edge single-piece inspection technology further enhances product qualification rates and customer satisfaction.

[0019] In summary, the present invention has significant advantages and beneficial effects, such as high detection efficiency, controllable accuracy, strong adaptability, and scalability. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the visual inspection device; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a metal fastener production line and a vision inspection device, which conceals some of the equipment. Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the visual inspection device from another angle; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the conveying mechanism; Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of a graded testing organization; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the pushing mechanism; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the receiving hopper and the detection mechanism; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the airflow path in the air inlet; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the guide rod structure; Figure 10 This is a structural diagram of the framework; Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the finished air vent.

[0021] Figure 12 This is a structural schematic diagram of the push plate and inclined cover assembly; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shifting mechanism after it has been turned. Figure 14 These are schematic diagrams of a portion of the pushing mechanism and a schematic diagram of the clamping block in the grading detection mechanism; Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating the detection method.

[0022] Markings in the diagram: Air inlet 001, Servo motor 002, Vision inspection system 003, Motor 005, Punch press 01, Forming mold 02, Feeding mechanism 03, Vision inspection device 10, Support 11, Device frame 110, Air nozzle frame 111, Frame 112, Receiving hopper 120, Hopper 121, Hopper body 122, Conveying mechanism 130, Queuing slot 131, Telescopic rod 132, Compression spring 133, Thrust frame 134, Thrust rod 34a, Rocker arm 34b, rotating shaft 34c, fixed bushing 135, grading detection mechanism 140, guide rod 141, front clamping block 142, rear clamping block 143, drive screw 144, dovetail rail 145, pushing mechanism 150, push plate 151, inclined cover 152, pressure shaft 153, pressure shaft carriage 154, drive screw 155, carriage rail 156, spring 157, first assembly c1, second assembly c2, third assembly c3, round hole k1. Implementation

[0023] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings: Example

[0024] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the present invention provides a visual inspection device 10, which can be used in a metal fastener production line, such as a pore fastener production line. The main components of the pore fastener production line include a punch press 01, a forming die 02, and a feeding device 03. The visual inspection device 10 is located below the forming die 02 and mainly performs the function of detecting and removing defective products from the pore fasteners.

[0025] The visual inspection device 10 includes a support 11, a device frame 110, a receiving hopper 120, a conveying mechanism 130, a sorting and inspection mechanism 140, a pushing mechanism 150, and a rejection mechanism. The support 11 is used to mount the device frame 110; the device frame 110 has an opening that connects to the outlet of the forming mold 02; the receiving hopper 120 is fixed on the device frame 110 and is used to receive and guide the flow of air pockets; the conveying mechanism 130 ensures that the air pockets flow efficiently through the receiving hopper 120 and are neatly arranged; the sorting and inspection mechanism 140 and the pushing mechanism 150 cooperate to provide a variable-angle inspection position; and the rejection mechanism sorts the air pockets according to the inspection results.

[0026] In the specific workflow, the products output from the air-hole production line directly enter the receiving hopper 120, transforming from a disordered state to an ordered arrangement, and accurately flow into the subsequent inspection station under the action of the conveying mechanism 130. The grading inspection mechanism 140 and the pushing mechanism 150 ensure that each air-hole has multiple angles for inspection, improving the accuracy of the visual inspection system 003. The visual inspection system 003, based on image recognition and machine learning algorithms, realizes the qualification judgment and classification of air-holes. The rejection mechanism responds quickly to the visual inspection results, accurately separating qualified and defective products in the air-holes. Qualified products enter the packaging stage, while defective products remain at the front for secondary inspection, marking, and rework by operators.

[0027] The visual inspection device 10 and its supporting inspection method for air-eye production lines provided by this invention effectively utilize automated mechanical equipment and cutting-edge intelligent algorithm technology. This comprehensively solves problems such as environmental changes, blind spots, and judgment errors in the visual inspection process, significantly improving inspection efficiency and product qualification rate. It also reduces blind spots in visual inspection and the randomness of manual judgment, achieving quality monitoring and optimization throughout the entire process of air-eye mass production. Compared with existing technologies, this solution represents a significant overall technological advancement and has broad market application prospects.

[0028] The visual inspection device 10 is mainly mounted on the frame formed by the support 11 via the device frame 110. The main function of the device frame 110 is to support and fix the various components of the entire inspection device. Among them, the air nozzle frame 111 is used to fix multiple sets of air nozzles, which are arranged in a matrix and can effectively flip the air nozzles that fall into them; the frame 112 serves as the load-bearing structure for the entire device.

[0029] The receiving hopper 120 passes through the air nozzle frame 111, with its opening facing upwards to receive the falling path of the air holes, and is fixedly installed at the top of the frame 112. It consists of a hopper 121 with an opening at the top and a hopper body 122 with a middle inclined surface for air conduction. The hopper 121 is used to maximize the reception of air holes output from the production line; the inclined surface of the hopper body 122 allows the air holes to flow orderly in a predetermined direction under the action of gravity.

[0030] The air inlet enters the precision conveying mechanism 130 from the bucket body 122. This conveying mechanism 130 comprises two main parts: 1. The queuing groove 131, which is precisely aligned with the air nozzle, enables the air holes to be arranged in a single, neat row. The queuing groove 131 has a groove-shaped structure with a flared opening at the top to facilitate the natural entry of the air holes. Its groove shape strictly matches the shape of the air holes, so that the air holes actively align neatly after entering.

[0031] 2. The telescopic rod 132 and related mechanisms form a thrust system to precisely control the output rhythm of the air valve. This system includes components such as the thrust frame 134 and the compression spring 133, forming a metronome that drives the air valve to flow out at a stable frequency, providing a stable air valve input for the downstream detection and rejection process.

[0032] The additional air nozzle array precisely corresponds to the queuing slot 131, further optimizing the orderliness of the air holes and improving the conveying efficiency.

[0033] The trough-shaped section of the queuing slot 131 is manufactured according to the columnar direction of the air inlet, with the larger end facing upwards. Under normal circumstances, the air inlet slides along the inside of the slot under the action of gravity; if the air inlet is not oriented correctly, the air nozzle will adjust its direction by blowing air to ensure that it can smoothly enter the queuing slot.

[0034] The meticulous design of the aforementioned conveying mechanism ensures that the air vents flow steadily into the downstream inspection and rejection stages in a neat, single-row manner, laying the foundation for improving the overall machine efficiency. This mechanism can be modularly customized according to actual air vent parameters to achieve ideal matching and conveying effects.

[0035] The air nozzle, through the non-directional air tumbling of the air holes, guides the air from the bucket body 122 into the flared opening at the top of the queuing slot 131. Guided by the queuing slot 131, the air holes slide out orderly from the tail end, realizing the transformation from a disordered state to a neat arrangement with the cap facing upwards.

[0036] The bucket body 122 has a circular hole k1 at the corresponding position at the tail end of the queuing groove 131. The air vents sliding out from the tail end of the queuing groove 131 all enter the circular hole k1 with their columnar direction aligned. This ensures the correct orientation of the air vents.

[0037] The quantity and time interval of air output from the tail-end vents are precisely controlled by a telescopic rod 132 located at the tail end of the queuing slot 131. When the telescopic rod 132 extends, it blocks the tail-end vents, preventing them from sliding down; when it retracts, it allows the vents to pass freely. Through this rhythmic telescopic movement, quantitative and timed air delivery can be achieved.

[0038] The aforementioned institutions work together to effectively transform the disordered and scattered air pockets into a neat, single-row air pocket flow with consistent direction, uniform quantity and spacing, laying the foundation for subsequent detection and rejection processing and improving work efficiency.

[0039] The telescopic rod 132 is a round rod with a rounded front end, which can be used to push against the middle of the air hole. Its mechanism is installed on the bottom side of the bucket body 122, and its movement direction is perpendicular to the air flow direction. The tail end is connected to a reset spring 133 and a control thrust frame 134.

[0040] The thrust frame 134 includes the following main components: 1. The thrust rod 34a directly pushes the telescopic rod 132; 2. Two rocker arms 34b supporting the thrust rod 34a; 3. The rotation center of the rocker arm 34b is the shaft 34c; 4. The bearing seat and bushing 135 of the fixed rotating shaft 34c.

[0041] The movement of the front clamping plate 142 drives the sequential transmission and movement of various parts within the drive mechanism: when the front clamping plate 142 is released, the push rod 34a pushes out the telescopic rod 132; when the front clamping plate 142 is clamped, the push rod 34a retracts, and the telescopic rod 132 is pulled back by the compression spring 133.

[0042] Ultimately, the telescopic rod 132 enables precise control over the arrangement and conveying of the air vents. When it extends, the flow of air through the vents is paused; when it retracts, the air vents are allowed to flow through in an orderly manner. This provides a good foundation for subsequent air vent input for inspection and sorting.

[0043] The grading detection mechanism 140 includes a guide rod 141 that guides the air inlet into the detection position. The lead end of the guide rod 141 is located at the circular hole k1, and the central axes of the two coincide. When the air inlet falls from the circular hole k1, it can be fitted onto the guide rod 141.

[0044] Guide rod 141 is held by front and rear clamping blocks and a screw drive mechanism: The front and rear clamping blocks 142 and 143 are connected by two pairs of drive screws 144 to form a first assembly c1, a second assembly c2, and a third assembly c3, which together clamp the guide rod 141. To ensure that the guide rod 141 does not fall off, all assemblies cannot be released at the same time; at least one assembly must always be in a clamped state.

[0045] When a certain assembly clamps the guide rod 141, the air vent fitted onto it is blocked from passing through. When the assembly is released, the air vent slips off and is analyzed by the detection device.

[0046] The alternating operation of the three clamping assemblies enables the introduction of air holes into the detection area one by one, completing the grade detection and rejection work, improving the precision of air hole processing, and meeting the sorting needs of air holes of different grades.

[0047] The front and rear clamping blocks 142 and 143 are movably mounted on the dovetail rail 145 fixed on the frame 112 via dovetail grooves machined on the bottom surface.

[0048] Left threaded holes are machined horizontally on both sides of the front clamping block 142, and right threaded holes are machined horizontally on both sides of the rear clamping block 143. The front and rear sections of the drive screw 144 are respectively machined with left and right threads to match them.

[0049] The drive screw 144 is driven to rotate by the servo motor 002, which drives the front and rear clamping blocks 142 and 143 to move inward to clamp and to move outward to release.

[0050] To ensure that the positioning does not shift during clamping, the clamping surfaces of the front and rear clamping blocks 142 and 143 are machined with semi-circular grooves to match the shape of the air hole.

[0051] The above-mentioned structure has a simple and reliable motion principle. The motor drives the screw to rotate, which in turn drives the front and rear clamping blocks to move alternately, so as to achieve precise clamping and release of the guide rod and air hole by the three sets of combined bodies, effectively ensuring the graded detection and subsequent processing of the air hole.

[0052] To avoid the guide rod 141 obstructing the side detection when the array is arranged, it is made of flexible nylon and other materials and is divided into three independent parts.

[0053] Each interface is located below the clamping plate where testing is performed, and the two ends of the interface are connected by magnetic components, allowing for quick separation and assembly. For example... Figure 10 As shown, during detection, the detection section guide rod can be pushed away from the array by the pushing mechanism 150 to avoid interference.

[0054] During the grading inspection process, components such as guide rod 141, front and rear clamping blocks 142 / 143, and drive screw 144 work together to guide and fix the air hole. This design helps improve the inspection accuracy and efficiency of the vision inspection system 003.

[0055] Overall, the matching design of the conveying mechanism and the detection mechanism enables the air holes to be arranged in an orderly manner, conveyed quantitatively, and positioned stably, laying the foundation for subsequent detection, analysis, and rejection processing, and greatly improving the flexibility and precision of automated sorting.

[0056] The pushing mechanism 150 includes the following components: 1. Push plate 151, which bends outward at the interface of push rod 141; 2. An inclined cover 152 integrated with the push plate 151.

[0057] The push plate 151 is inserted into a rectangular hole on the rear side of the frame 112. One end is an arc-shaped groove that matches the interface of the guide rod 141, and the other end is a flat surface used to fix the inclined cover 152. The push plate 151 and the inclined cover 152 form a whole.

[0058] Multiple push plates 151 are arranged in two rows at the interface of the guide rod 141 that needs to be pushed outward for detection, with the number of push plates in each row being the same as the number of guide rods 141.

[0059] The sloping cover 152 is in the shape of a herringbone, and when arranged end to end, it forms a wave-like undulation.

[0060] During operation, the push plate 151 pushes the guide rod 141 interface outward to achieve rapid separation; the wavy slope of the inclined cover 152 can effectively block visual interference and ensure detection accuracy.

[0061] This pushing mechanism is simple and practical in design, and can be modularly expanded according to the number of guide rods and testing needs, providing convenience for rapid positioning and testing of air holes.

[0062] The pressure shaft 153 is a roller that can roll onto the herringbone-shaped wavy side of the inclined cover 152. When the pressure shaft 153 moves, it causes the push plate 151 to be displaced perpendicular to the movement of the pressure shaft within the rectangular hole.

[0063] The purpose of this displacement is to push the guide rod 141 interface away from the array, exposing the side of the air hole on it, which facilitates the detection of the vision system 003.

[0064] The pressure shaft 153 is mounted on the pressure shaft carriage 154, which is positioned between two rows of push plates 151. The pressure shaft carriage 154 reciprocates on the rail 156 via the drive screw 155, causing the pressure shaft 153 to roll back and forth on the inclined plane, pushing the guide rod 141 interface away and then returning it in sequence.

[0065] This design avoids mutual interference and obstruction between the guide rods 141 when they are arranged in an array, effectively improving the accuracy and efficiency of the detection.

[0066] Spring 157 is installed on both sides of push plate 151, with one end abutting against the rear side of frame 112 and the other end abutting against the lower side of inclined cover 152. When pressure shaft 153 is removed, spring 157 pushes push plate 151 to reset.

[0067] The pressure shaft 153 reciprocates through the lead screw 155 driven by the motor 005.

[0068] At this point, the lateral inspection of the air pockets is complete. The rejection mechanism will then triage the air pockets based on the inspection results.

[0069] Overall, the pusher plate 151, inclined cover 152, and pressure shaft 153 in the pushing mechanism work together to achieve lateral display of the air holes, improving the accuracy and efficiency of the detection system 003. The subsequent rejection mechanism then completes the precise sorting of qualified air holes.

[0070] The collaboration between the two organizations has greatly enhanced the flexibility and precision of the automated sorting process. Example

[0071] The visual inspection system 003 has been upgraded with a higher resolution camera and more complex algorithms, enabling it to detect individual air pockets rather than in strings.

[0072] Accordingly, multiple independently controlled small cylinders are set up, each corresponding to a specific position in the array of air holes. The activation of the small cylinders is precisely controlled by detection information from an upgraded vision inspection system.

[0073] When a single defective air hole is detected, the small cylinder at the corresponding location is activated, controlling the corresponding actuator to remove only the defective air hole without affecting the flow of other qualified air holes in the same string. This greatly reduces the accidental rejection of qualified products and lowers the workload of secondary manual sorting. Example

[0074] A second visual inspection system is added to the existing visual inspection system 003. The first system 003 still inspects the overall quality of the air gap string; the second system is used to inspect for minor defects on the surface of the air gaps.

[0075] The two inspection systems are arranged in a serial configuration, with a conveyor between them. Based on the inspection results of the second system, any air holes with surface defects are fed back and sent to the surface polishing unit 200 for rework. After polishing, the air holes are re-inspected by the inspection system to ensure that all air holes meet the surface quality requirements before flowing into the downstream processing and packaging process.

[0076] This design further enhances the product's quality control capabilities, ensuring that the air vents are 100% qualified in both internal structure and external surface, maximizing the satisfaction of customer needs.

[0077] Based on all the foregoing embodiments, the method for detecting air pockets is summarized as follows: 1. The air vent enters the feeding device 03 from the punch press 01 through the forming die 02, and falls sequentially into the receiving hopper 120 (including the hopper 121 and the hopper body 122); 2. The air holes are arranged neatly under the action of the conveying mechanism 130 (including the queuing groove 131, telescopic rod 132, compression spring 133, thrust frame 134, etc.); 3. The neatly arranged air holes enter the detection positions in the grading detection mechanism 140 in sequence. The grading detection mechanism 140 includes a guide rod 141, a front clamping block 142, a rear clamping block 143, a drive screw 144, etc. 4. The visual inspection system 003 performs overall or individual inspection of the air holes to identify qualified and defective products; 5. When necessary, the pushing mechanism 150 (including the push plate 151, the inclined cover 152, the pressure shaft 153, etc.) causes the air hole to move, so that the vision system 003 can perform multi-angle detection; 6. The rejection mechanism separates qualified and defective products based on the test results; 7. Qualified products are packaged, while defective products are stored separately; 8. Optionally, an auxiliary vision system can be added after the main inspection to achieve re-inspection and feedback of surface defects of air holes through a conveying device; 9. Employing advanced technologies and algorithms such as image recognition and machine learning, we can accurately identify individual air pockets and improve the level of automatic detection and quality control.

[0078] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative examples of the spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various modifications or additions to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods to substitute them, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vision inspection apparatus, characterized by ,include: The conveying mechanism includes a queuing trough and a telescopic rod mechanism, used to achieve neat single-row arrangement and quantitative rhythmic conveying of the air holes; The grading and inspection mechanism comprises a guide rod and front and rear clamping blocks. The guide rod is clamped to position and guide the air holes for batch inspection. The guide rod's inlet end is located at the circular hole, with their central axes coinciding. When the air hole falls through the circular hole, it fits snugly onto the guide rod. The guide rod is clamped by the front and rear clamping blocks and a screw drive mechanism. The front and rear clamping blocks are connected by two pairs of drive screws, forming a first assembly, a second assembly, and a third assembly, which together clamp the guide rod. The front and rear clamping blocks are movably mounted on dovetail rails fixed to the frame via dovetail grooves machined on their bottom surfaces. Left-hand threaded holes are machined horizontally on both sides of the front clamping block, and right-hand threaded holes are machined horizontally on both sides of the rear clamping block. The drive screws have left and right threads machined on their front and rear sections respectively to match these threads. The drive screws are driven by a servo motor to rotate, causing the front and rear clamping blocks to move inward to clamp and outward to release. The pushing mechanism, comprising a pusher plate and a beveled cover, is used to push the detection section of the guide rod outward, enabling lateral display of the air hole. The pusher plate is inserted into a rectangular hole on the rear side of the frame, with one end being an arc-shaped groove that matches the guide rod interface, and the other end being a flat surface for fixing the beveled cover. Multiple pushers are arranged in two rows at the guide rod interface requiring external pushing for detection, with each row containing the same number of guide rods. The beveled covers are herringbone-shaped, arranged end-to-end to form a wave-like undulation. A pressure shaft is mounted on a pressure shaft carriage, which is positioned between the two rows of pusher plates. The pressure shaft carriage reciprocates on a rail via a drive screw, causing the pressure shaft to roll back and forth on the beveled surface, sequentially pushing the guide rod interface away and then returning it. The visual inspection system is set at the detection position that is displayed to the side of the air hole. Based on image recognition and machine learning algorithms, it detects and analyzes the air hole from multiple angles.

2. The vision inspection apparatus of claim 1, wherein The queuing slot has a trough-shaped structure and a flared opening at the top; the telescopic rod mechanism includes a compression spring and a thrust frame.

3. The vision inspection apparatus of claim 1, wherein The visual detection system employs image recognition and machine learning algorithms to achieve accurate judgment of individual air pockets.

4. The step detection mechanism of claim 1, wherein The guide rod is composed of multiple independent components, and each detection segment can be pushed away from the array by the pushing mechanism.

5. The step detection mechanism of claim 1, wherein The clamping surfaces of the front and rear clamping blocks match the shape of the air hole to ensure that the positioning does not shift.

6. A pinhole detection method using the visual inspection apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by This includes the following steps: S1. By utilizing the air-hole conveying mechanism, the air holes are transformed from disordered to a neat, single-row arrangement; S2. Using a graded detection mechanism, the airflow is diverted and guided at specific points through guide rods and clamps; S3. The air hole is displaced by the pushing mechanism to facilitate detection from multiple angles; S4. Based on a visual inspection system, using image recognition and machine learning algorithms, determine the qualification of a single air hole; S5. Based on the visual inspection results, the air pockets are sorted by the rejection mechanism.

7. The burr hole detection method of claim 6, wherein The air-hole conveying mechanism includes a queuing trough and a telescopic rod mechanism.

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