Bottle Edge Profile Detection Using Parallel Light Collimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems for detecting the edge profile of bottles or similar containers suffer from severe imaging errors due to non-distortion-free beam paths, which can be mitigated but at the cost of using expensive telecentric lenses with reduced depth of field.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a line image recorder or line camera to generate distortion-free line recordings of containers, with parallel light producing a parallel shadow image that avoids distortions caused by non-parallel light rays and extraneous light, allowing for cost-effective construction using commercially available lenses and achieving high depth of field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If telecentric lenses are used to reduce imaging errors, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the collimation function from the lens system by using a separate collimator component. This separates the shadow generation function (performed by the collimator producing parallel light) from the imaging function (performed by the camera), allowing the use of simpler entocentric lenses instead of complex telecentric lenses while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a collimator as an intermediary component between the light source and the container. This collimator creates parallel light rays that serve as a mediator to generate accurate shadow images without requiring the camera lens to be telecentric, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If telecentric lenses are used to reduce imaging errors, then measurement precision is improved, but depth of field is reduced requiring very precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the depth of field limitation associated with telecentric lenses by separating the collimation function into a dedicated collimator component. This allows the use of entocentric lenses with greater depth of field while maintaining imaging accuracy through the parallel light provided by the collimator.
Solution Approach 2:
The collimator acts as an intermediary that provides parallel light illumination, which decouples the depth of field requirements from the imaging accuracy requirements. This intermediary component enables the system to achieve both high measurement precision and large depth of field simultaneously.
3Manufacturing precision
If parallel light is used to generate shadow image, then imaging distortion is reduced, but light source design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator serves as an intermediary optical component that transforms divergent light from a simple point source into parallel light. This mediator component achieves the desired parallel illumination for accurate shadow imaging without requiring a complex light source design, as the collimator handles the optical transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for complex mechanical light source positioning and alignment systems with an optical solution using a collimator. Instead of mechanically adjusting the light source to achieve parallel illumination, the collimator optically transforms the light, simplifying the overall system design.
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
This approach simplifies the imaging system, reduces costs, provides distortion-free imaging, and allows for homogeneous luminance even with weak light sources, while maintaining a high depth of field using inexpensive entocentric lenses.
Implementation Method 1
parallel light from a light-emitting device generates a parallel shadow image of the respective container on a light screen
Implementation Method 2
this shadow image is then recorded for further processing using an optoelectronic receiver or an optoelectronic camera
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and device for detecting the edge profile of bottles or similar containers that are moved past a measuring and/or receiving region of a measuring and/or receiving system, using at least one opto-electric receiver on one side of the measuring and/or receiving region and using at least one light-emitting device on the side located opposite of the receiver in the measuring and/or receiving region.