Annular Product Inspection Optics for Blind-Spot-Free Surface Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional visual inspection systems for annular resin products, such as O-rings, have blind areas in the imaging directions of the outer and inner side surfaces, preventing comprehensive inspection of these surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The system employs multiple image capturing units and illumination units arranged around a central axis to capture images of the outer and inner side surfaces from various angles, ensuring complete coverage and highlighting defects like dents or scratches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single outer-side-surface imaging camera and prisms are used to capture images of the outer side surface, then the device complexity is reduced, but blind areas remain in the imaging directions preventing comprehensive inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The outer-side-surface image capturing device is divided into multiple independent image capturing units (first, second, and third outer-side-surface image capturing units) arranged around the red illumination unit. Each unit captures images from different angular positions, collectively providing complete 360-degree coverage of the outer side surface without blind spots.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point imaging approach to a multi-dimensional angular arrangement. Image capturing units are positioned at different circumferential positions around the annular product, capturing images from multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously, thereby eliminating blind areas that would exist in a single-viewpoint system.
2Reliability
If multiple image capturing units are arranged around the central axis to eliminate blind areas, then inspection coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple image capturing units are merged into a single integrated outer-side-surface image capturing device that shares common structural elements, including the red illumination unit and the annular light projector. This consolidation reduces overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive inspection coverage through coordinated operation of the multiple capturing units.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables precise inspection of a broader area of the outer and inner side surfaces of annular resin products, effectively identifying defects that conventional systems miss.
Implementation Method 1
an annular light projector arranged coaxially with the vertical axis and configured to radiate red light toward a center of the light projector
Implementation Method 2
first and second mirrors arranged with a predetermined spacing therebetween to receive light reflected from the outer side surface of the inspection target
Data Source
AI summary
A visual inspection system includes a conveyance device conveying an inspection target on a glass plate in a rotating direction of the glass plate, an outer-side-surface image capturing device capturing an image of the inspection target at an outer-side-surface image capturing position, and a judgment device judging based on the captured image whether the inspection target is defective in appearance or not. The outer-side-surface image capturing device has an illumination unit for inspection and three image capturing units arranged around the illumination unit. Each image capturing unit includes first and second mirrors receiving light reflected from an outer side surface of the inspection target at position below the illumination unit, a third mirror reflecting reflected light from the first and second mirrors upward, and an imaging camera arranged above the third mirror.