Double-sided visual detection sorting equipment for cloth towels

Abstract

The invention discloses cloth towel double-face visual inspection sorting equipment which comprises a towel spreading mechanism, a visual inspection mechanism, a sorting conveying mechanism and a PLC control system, a towel clamping set of the towel spreading mechanism is connected to a sliding block of a towel linear module, and a transparent supporting plate is arranged below the towel linear module; the transparent supporting plate is installed on a sliding block of a towel conveying linear module of the visual detection mechanism, lighting sources and line scanning cameras with lenses facing the transparent supporting plate are installed on an upper machine frame and a lower machine frame which the transparent supporting plate passes through in a reciprocating mode through the towel conveying linear module, and the trigger switch is installed on the machine frame which the transparent supporting plate passes through and is in signal connection with the line scanning cameras. The sorting and conveying mechanism is located on the tail end side of the towel conveying linear module, the towel grabbing and distributing device is controlled to pick and distribute the towels on the qualified product conveyor or the unqualified product conveyor, and the linear scanning camera, the trigger switch, driving servo motors of all the mechanisms and driving air valves of the grabbing clamps are all in signal connection with the PLC control system. The front and back sides of the cloth towel conveyed by the transparent supporting plate are synchronously detected, the production efficiency is improved, the equipment structure is simple, the machine failure rate is low, and the energy consumption is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of textile finishing production line equipment, and particularly to a double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for textiles. Background Technology

[0002] The towel production process involves first sewing long strips of towel fabric along the longitudinal edges on a longitudinal sewing machine, then cutting the towel into pieces and sewing them along the transverse edges using a transverse sewing machine, and finally inspecting both sides of the products to ensure they are up to standard before sorting and packaging.

[0003] The applicant's self-developed automated production line has been granted a patent (authorization announcement number: CN223240322U), entitled "Integrated Towel Finishing Production Line." This line automates numerous processes, including longitudinal sewing, slitting, transverse sewing, inspection, and sorting, improving production efficiency and reducing labor input. However, the inspection process requires flipping the towels one side at a time for sequential inspection, necessitating both an inspection mechanism and a towel-flipping mechanism. This results in a long production line with low efficiency, and the towel-flipping mechanism may also malfunction, affecting the continuous operation of the production line. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this invention provides a double-sided visual inspection and sorting device for cloth towels. The transparent pallet conveys the cloth towels and simultaneously inspects both sides, improving production efficiency. The device has a simple structure, low machine failure rate, and low energy consumption as it does not require a towel-flipping mechanism.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A double-sided visual inspection and sorting device for towels includes a towel-laying mechanism, a visual inspection mechanism, a sorting and conveying mechanism, and a PLC control system. The towel-laying mechanism includes a towel clamping assembly, a longitudinally arranged towel-laying linear module, and a transparent tray. The towel clamping assembly is connected to a slider of the towel-laying linear module, and the transparent tray is positioned below the towel-laying linear module. The visual inspection mechanism includes a transversely arranged towel-feeding linear module, a line scan camera, a light source, and a trigger switch. The transparent tray is mounted on the slider of the towel-feeding linear module, and the transparent tray travels along the reciprocating path of the towel-feeding linear module. The lower frame is equipped with a light source and a line scan camera with its lens facing the transparent tray. A trigger switch is installed on the frame through which the transparent tray passes and is connected to the signal of the line scan camera. The sorting and conveying mechanism is located at the end of the towel feeding linear module and includes a qualified product conveyor, a non-qualified product conveyor, and a towel grabbing and dispensing device installed on the upper frame. The towel grabbing and dispensing device is controlled to pick up towels and place them on the qualified product conveyor or the non-qualified product conveyor. The line scan camera, the trigger switch, the drive servo motors of all mechanisms, and the drive air valves of the gripper are all connected to the PLC control system.

[0006] A further improvement involves installing a towel-receiving mechanism on the frame at the front end of the towel-pulling straight module. This mechanism includes a horizontally arranged towel-receiving straight module, a towel-receiving clamping group, and a towel-receiving long platform. The long platform extends in the same direction below the towel-receiving straight module and is used to connect to the horizontal sewing machine on the side. The towel-receiving clamping group is connected to the slider of the towel-receiving straight module. Pressure plates connected to the pressure cylinders at both ends of the towel-receiving clamping group press against the towel-receiving long platform. The drive servo motor of the towel-receiving straight module and the drive valves of the pressure cylinders are connected to the PLC control system. This integrates with the preceding process equipment to form an automated production line.

[0007] A further improvement is that the guide rails of the towel-pulling linear module and the towel-feeding linear module are arranged parallel to each other on both sides, and the drive servo motors of the sliders on the two guide rails are connected to synchronous shafts. The towel-pulling clamp and the transparent tray operate stably.

[0008] A further improvement is that the towel gripping and dispensing device includes a towel gripping clamp group, a lifting linear module, and a horizontally arranged sorting linear module. The towel gripping clamp group with grippers at the four corners is installed on the slider of the lifting linear module, and the lifting linear module is connected to the slider of the sorting linear module.

[0009] A further improvement is that the towel gripper assembly includes two or more rows of grippers arranged in a matrix. This is suitable for the production of towels of various sizes and specifications.

[0010] A further improvement is that the qualified product conveyor is located below the end of the towel feeding linear module, while the unqualified product conveyor is located outside the end of the towel feeding linear module. With a majority of qualified products, the towel gripper assembly does not need frequent lateral movement, resulting in low energy consumption.

[0011] A further improvement is that the defective product conveyor is located below the end of the towel-feeding linear module, while the qualified product conveyor is located outside the end of the towel-feeding linear module. The qualified product conveyor platform is higher, which is beneficial to the relative comfort of the back-end staff.

[0012] A further improvement is that the trigger switch includes a mirror-reflective photoelectric sensor and a reflector, which are respectively installed at corresponding positions on the upper and lower frames along the path of the transparent tray.

[0013] A further improvement involves mounting the four line scanners in pairs on the upper and lower frames through which the transparent tray passes. The first and third line scanners are mounted sequentially on the upper frame, while the second and fourth line scanners are mounted sequentially on the lower frame. The first and second line scanners capture images of the front and back of the cloth to be inspected as it passes through the first area, and the third and fourth line scanners capture images of the front and back of the cloth to be inspected as it passes through the second area. The lighting sources, including an upper light source and a lower light source, are staggered and mounted on the upper and lower frames through which the transparent tray passes through the first and second areas, respectively. The first and second line scanners capture images of the front (positive light source detection) and the back (back light source detection) of the cloth to be inspected as it passes through the first area, while the third and fourth line scanners capture images of the front (back light source detection) and the back (positive light source detection) of the cloth to be inspected as it passes through the second area.

[0014] A further improvement is that a frame is provided around the towel-laying mechanism, the visual inspection mechanism, and the sorting and conveying mechanism, and a cover with a transparent window or transparent door is installed on the frame, with rollers at the bottom of the frame. Beneficial effects

[0015] The towel-laying mechanism of this invention places the towel on a transparent tray. The transparent tray carries the towel through a visual inspection mechanism, where linear cameras above and below synchronously inspect the front and back of the towel frame by frame to determine if they are qualified. Then, the towel-grabbing and sorting device picks up the towel and places it on the qualified or unqualified product conveyor according to the inspection results. The entire process is automated, doubling the inspection efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a front view of the present invention; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A partial view. Detailed Implementation

[0017] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the present invention includes a towel receiving mechanism 5, a towel spreading mechanism 1, a vision inspection mechanism 2, a sorting and conveying mechanism 3, and a PLC control system 4. The towel spreading mechanism 1 includes a towel clamping group 11, a longitudinally arranged towel straight module 12, and a transparent tray 13 (transparent glass plate). The towel clamping group 11 is connected to the slider of the towel straight module 12, and the transparent tray 13 is placed below the towel straight module 12. The towel receiving mechanism 5 is installed on the frame at the front end of the towel straight module 12. The towel receiving mechanism 5 includes a transversely arranged towel receiving straight module 51, a towel clamping group 52, and a towel receiving platform 53. The towel receiving platform 53 is installed below the towel receiving straight module 51 and extends in the same direction for connecting the transverse sewing machine on the side. The towel clamping group 52 is connected to the slider of the towel receiving straight module 51, and the pressure plates connected to the pressure cylinders at both ends of the towel clamping group 52 press against the towel receiving platform 53. The vision inspection mechanism 2 includes a transversely arranged towel receiving mechanism 51, a towel spreading mechanism 1, a vertically arranged towel straight module 12, and a transparent tray 13 (transparent glass plate). The system includes a towel feeding linear module 21, a line scanning camera 22, a light source 23, and a trigger switch 24. The transparent tray 13 is mounted on the slider of the towel feeding linear module 21. The upper and lower frames through which the transparent tray 13 passes are equipped with light sources 23 and line scanning cameras 22 with lenses facing the transparent tray. The trigger switch 24 includes a mirror-reflecting photoelectric sensor 241 and a reflector 242, which are respectively installed at corresponding positions on the upper and lower frames through which the transparent tray 13 passes. The mirror-reflecting photoelectric sensor is signal-connected to the line scanning camera 22. The sorting and conveying mechanism 3 is located at the end of the towel feeding linear module and includes a qualified product conveyor 31, a non-qualified product conveyor 32, and a towel gripping and dispensing device 33 installed on the upper frame. The non-qualified product conveyor 32 is located below the end of the towel feeding linear module 21, and the qualified product conveyor 32 is located outside the end of the towel feeding linear module 21. The towel gripping and dispensing device 33 includes a towel gripping clamp group 331, a lifting linear module 332, and a horizontally arranged sorting linear module 333. The grippers of the towel gripping clamp group 331 are arranged in a matrix of two columns and four rows. The towel gripping clamp group 331 is installed on the slider of the lifting linear module 332. The lifting linear module 332 is connected to the slider of the sorting linear module 333. The sorting linear module 333 spans above the qualified product conveyor 31 and the unqualified product conveyor 32. The towel gripping and dispensing device 33 is controlled to pick up towels and place them on the qualified product conveyor 31 or the unqualified product conveyor 32. The line scanning camera 22, the trigger switch 24, the drive servo motors of all mechanisms, and the drive air valves of the grippers are all connected to the PLC control system 4.

[0018] The guide rails of the towel-pulling linear module 12, the towel-feeding linear module 21, and the sorting linear module 333 are evenly spaced on both sides and parallel to each other. The drive servo motors of the sliders on the two guide rails are connected to synchronous shafts.

[0019] The towel receiving clamp group 52 takes a single piece of cloth from the side horizontal sewing machine. After the cloth pulling clamp group 11 clamps it, it pulls the cloth flat and lays it on the transparent tray 13. The transparent tray 13 is moved to the left by the cloth feeding linear module 21. It passes the trigger switch 24 of the vision inspection mechanism. The upper and lower linear cameras 22 inspect the front and back of the cloth. If the cloth is qualified, the towel gripping clamp group 331 moves down to grab the cloth and moves it to the left, placing the cloth flat on the qualified product conveyor 31. If the product is unqualified, the towel gripping clamp group 331 grabs the cloth and puts it directly onto the unqualified conveyor 32 below.

[0020] The four line scanning cameras 22 are installed in pairs on the upper and lower frames through which the transparent tray passes. The first line scanning camera 221 and the third line scanning camera 223 are installed one after the other on the upper frame, and the second line scanning camera 222 and the fourth line scanning camera 224 are installed one after the other on the lower frame. The first line scanning camera 221 and the second line scanning camera 222 are used to capture the front and back images of the cloth to be inspected as it passes through the first area 25, and the third line scanning camera 223 and the fourth line scanning camera 224 are used to capture the front and back images of the cloth to be inspected as it passes through the second area 26. The light source 23 includes an upper light source 231 and a lower light source 232, which are respectively staggered and installed on the upper and lower frames through which the transparent tray 13 passes through the first area 25 and the second area 26. The first and second line scanning cameras capture front-light and back-light detection images when the fabric to be inspected passes through the first area. The third and fourth line scanning cameras capture front-back-light and back-light detection images when the fabric to be inspected passes through the second area. The front-light and back-light detection images can be compared to detect surface defects such as loose threads, skipped stitches, and stains. The back-light and back-light detection images can be compared to detect internal weaving defects in the fabric.

[0021] The towel-laying mechanism, visual inspection mechanism, and sorting and conveying mechanism are surrounded by a frame. A cover with a transparent window or door is installed on the frame, and rollers are installed at the bottom of the frame. This ensures the cleanliness and visibility of the internal operating environment, and the rollers facilitate the movement of the equipment.

[0022] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for cloth towels, characterized in that: The system includes a towel-laying mechanism (1), a vision inspection mechanism (2), a sorting and conveying mechanism (3), and a PLC control system (4). The towel-laying mechanism (1) includes a towel clamping group (11), a vertically arranged towel straight module (12), and a transparent tray (13). The towel clamping group (11) is connected to the slider of the towel straight module (12), and the transparent tray (13) is placed below the towel straight module (12). The vision inspection mechanism (2) includes a horizontally arranged towel feeding straight module (21), a line scanning camera (22), a light source (23), and a trigger switch (24). The transparent tray (13) is installed on the slider of the towel feeding straight module (21), and the transparent tray (13) moves back and forth through the towel feeding straight module. Light source (23) and line scan camera (22) with lens facing the transparent tray are installed on the upper and lower frames. Trigger switch (24) is installed on the frame through which the transparent tray passes and is connected to the line scan camera (22) by signal. The sorting and conveying mechanism (3) is located at the end of the towel feeding linear module and includes qualified product conveyor (31), unqualified product conveyor (32) and towel grabbing and distributing device (33) installed on the upper frame. The towel grabbing and distributing device (33) is controlled to pick up towels and distribute them on qualified product conveyor (31) or unqualified product conveyor (32). The line scan camera (22), trigger switch (24) and the drive servo motors of all mechanisms and the drive air valve of the gripper are all connected to the PLC control system (4) by signal.

2. The double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for cloth towels according to claim 1, characterized in that: A towel receiving mechanism (5) is installed on the frame at the front end of the towel straight module (12). The towel receiving mechanism (5) includes a towel receiving straight module (51) arranged horizontally, a towel receiving clamp group (52), and a towel receiving platform (53). The towel receiving platform (53) is installed below the towel receiving straight module (51) and extends in the same direction for connecting the horizontal sewing machine on the side. The towel receiving clamp group (52) is connected to the slider of the towel receiving straight module (51). The pressure plates connected to the pressure cylinders at both ends of the towel receiving clamp group (52) press against the towel receiving platform (53). The drive servo motor of the towel receiving straight module and the drive valve of the pressure cylinder are connected to the PLC control system signal.

3. The double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for cloth towels according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide rails of the towel-pulling linear module (12) and the towel-feeding linear module (21) are evenly spaced on both sides and are parallel. The drive servo motors of the sliders on the two guide rails are connected to synchronous shafts.

4. The double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for towels according to claim 1, characterized in that: The towel gripping and sorting device (33) includes a towel gripping clamp group (331), a lifting linear module (332), and a horizontally arranged sorting linear module (333). The towel gripping clamp group (331), which has gripping clamps at the four corners, is installed on the slider of the lifting linear module (332). The lifting linear module (332) is connected to the slider of the sorting linear module (333).

5. The double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for towels according to claim 4, characterized in that: The gripper group (331) includes grippers arranged in a matrix of two or more columns and three rows.

6. The double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for cloth towels according to claim 1, characterized in that: The qualified product conveyor (31) is located below the end of the towel feeding linear module (21), and the unqualified product conveyor (32) is located outside the end of the towel feeding linear module (21).

7. The double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for cloth towels according to claim 1, characterized in that: The defective product conveyor (32) is located below the end of the towel feeding linear module (21), and the qualified product conveyor (32) is located outside the end of the towel feeding linear module (21).

8. The double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for cloth towels according to claim 1, characterized in that: The trigger switch (24) includes a mirror-reflective photoelectric sensor (241) and a reflector (242), which are respectively installed at corresponding positions on the upper and lower frames through which the transparent tray passes.

9. The double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for cloth towels according to claim 1, characterized in that: The four line scanning cameras (22) are installed in pairs on the upper and lower frames through which the transparent tray passes. The first line scanning camera (221) and the third line scanning camera (223) are installed one after the other on the upper frame, and the second line scanning camera (222) and the fourth line scanning camera (224) are installed one after the other on the lower frame. The first line scanning camera (221) and the second line scanning camera (222) are used to capture the front and back images of the cloth to be inspected when it passes through the first area (25), and the third line scanning camera (223) and the fourth line scanning camera (224) are used to capture the front and back images of the cloth to be inspected when it passes through the second area (26). The light source (23) includes an upper light source (231) and a lower light source (232), which are respectively staggered and installed on the upper and lower frames through which the transparent tray (13) passes through the first area (25) and the second area (26).

10. The double-sided visual inspection and sorting equipment for cloth towels according to claim 1, characterized in that: The towel-laying mechanism, visual inspection mechanism, and sorting and conveying mechanism are surrounded by a frame, and a cover with a transparent window or transparent door is installed on the frame. Rollers are provided at the bottom of the frame.

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