Optical Inspection of Container Bottoms Using Retractable Slide Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting the verticality and orthogonality of container bottoms, particularly glass bottles, face challenges such as container degradation due to handling and instability during optical inspection, leading to inaccurate measurements.
Innovation Solution
An optical inspection station with a retractable slide plate and actuator system that positions containers between a light source and sensor, allowing for accurate measurement without degrading the containers, and enabling detection of orthogonality defects by analyzing light beams during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If containers are moved upward and rotated during inspection, then the inspection operation can be performed, but the containers become unstable and degraded
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the container upward and rotating it during inspection, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the container stationary on the support table and moving the optical inspection station instead. This eliminates the instability and degradation caused by traditional handling methods while still enabling the inspection operation to be performed effectively.
2Reliability
If containers are continuously guided during transfer, then stability is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guidance function from the container transfer process. By using a fixed support table with a recess that naturally guides the container bottom, continuous active guidance systems are eliminated. The container is guided only when necessary (during initial placement), reducing device complexity while maintaining stability during the inspection operation.
3Measurement precision
If matrix images of container heels are taken, then verticality measurement is enabled, but proper image acquisition becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective element positioned at a known distance from the support table as an intermediary. This reflective element serves as a reference object that reflects light back to the sensor, enabling accurate verticality measurement without requiring difficult-to-acquire images of the container heel. The intermediary provides a stable, easily detectable reference for measurement calculations.
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 solution provides stable and accurate measurements of container verticality and orthogonality without degrading the containers, ensuring reliable inspection and detection of defects, thereby improving the efficiency and precision of the inspection process.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor can receive a light beam emitted by the light source and propagating in an inspection volume
Data Source
AI summary
An installation (2) for optically inspecting containers (3) includes a support table (7) for containers, which table has a slide plate (8) on which the bottom of a container stands. The slide plate (8) includes a portion (18) that is movable under the action of an actuator (19) to move the movable portion (18) between a transfer position in which the movable portion is flush with the table, and an inspection position in which the movable portion (18) is set back relative to the slide plate (8). A light source (14) and a light sensor (15) are positioned so that, in the inspection position of the movable portion, the sensor can receive a light beam propagating in an inspection volume (V) in which there is situated at least a portion of the bottom (4) of the container spaced apart from the slide plate.