Container Inspection Imaging for Edge Foreign Matter Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inspection technologies fail to accurately detect foreign matters present near the edge of a container due to cylindrical lens effects, which distort images and hinder precise detection.

Innovation Solution

An inspection apparatus that includes a grasping unit to hold a container, an inclination unit to tilt it around a first axis, and a change unit to alter the imaged area by rotating it around a second axis, combined with an imaging apparatus to capture and process images using background models to enhance detection accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the container is imaged without orientation adjustment, then the inspection process is simple and fast, but foreign matters near the edge of the container cannot be accurately detected due to cylindrical lens effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracy of foreign mattersVSAvoidcomplexity of orientation adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection apparatus dynamically adjusts the orientation of the container or imaging apparatus during the inspection process. The container is rotated around a first axis and the imaging apparatus is rotated around a second axis, allowing the system to adapt to different imaging requirements and eliminate cylindrical lens effects at various positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces rotational movement around two different axes (first axis and second axis) to transform a two-dimensional imaging problem into a three-dimensional solution. By rotating the container and/or imaging apparatus around these axes, the system captures images from multiple angular perspectives, thereby eliminating the limitations of single-angle imaging and cylindrical lens effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the container is rotated around a single axis, then the structure is simple, but the imaged area cannot be sufficiently changed to detect all foreign matters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaged area of containerVSAvoidcomplexity of rotation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces rotational movement around two different axes (first axis and second axis) to transform a two-dimensional imaging problem into a three-dimensional solution. By rotating the container and/or imaging apparatus around these axes, the system captures images from multiple angular perspectives, thereby eliminating the limitations of single-angle imaging and cylindrical lens effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation mechanism serves multiple functions: it changes the imaged area of the container, eliminates cylindrical lens effects at different positions, and enables comprehensive inspection of the entire container volume. The same rotational mechanism accomplishes what would otherwise require multiple separate imaging systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12529661B2Inspection apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 NEC CORP

AI summary

An inspection apparatus includes a grasping unit configured to grasp a container in which a liquid is charged, an inclination unit configured to at least incline the container around a first axis with the grasping unit grasping the container, and a change unit configured to change an area of the container imaged by an imaging apparatus by changing relative orientations of the container and the imaging apparatus around a second axis different from the first axis.