Container Inspection Lighting with Dual Offset Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inspection devices for containers, particularly those with dark or black labels, face challenges in providing sufficient illumination for effective label examination due to high light absorption, leading to inadequate scattered or reflected light for proper imaging.
Innovation Solution
The inspection device employs a dual lighting system with a first lighting device positioned above and a second lighting device below the container, both laterally offset, using Fresnel lenses for conical illumination and highly reflective mirrors to ensure maximum light reflection and minimal attenuation, allowing for effective illumination and imaging of dark labels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single light source is used to illuminate the container, then the device complexity is reduced, but the illumination intensity on dark labels is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple independent light sources positioned at different locations (above, below, and laterally offset). Each light source illuminates specific portions of the container from different angles, ensuring that dark labels receive sufficient illumination while allowing the imaging system to capture reflected light from multiple directions.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple lighting devices are added to illuminate dark labels, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system extends into multiple spatial dimensions by placing light sources above, below, and laterally offset from the container. This three-dimensional arrangement of light sources provides comprehensive illumination of the label surface from various angles, ensuring sufficient light reaches dark labels while enabling the imaging system to capture reflected light effectively.
3Ease of manufacture
If light is emitted directly onto the container surface, then the illumination is simple, but the reflected light is insufficient for imaging dark labels
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is pre-configured with multiple light sources positioned to illuminate the container from optimal angles before the imaging process begins. The light sources are arranged to ensure that reflected light from dark labels is maximized and directed toward the imaging system, compensating for the high light absorption characteristics of dark surfaces.
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 configuration ensures satisfactory illumination and imaging of labels on containers with dark or black labels, enabling the detection of kinks and other label defects with high accuracy and minimal light loss, even on containers with high radiation-absorbing surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
A refractive element and in particular a lens body is particularly preferably provided in a beam path between the second illumination device and the container. A refractive element and in particular a lens body is also particularly advantageously provided in a beam path between the first illumination device and the container. The lens body is preferably a lens and particularly preferably a Fresnel lens.
Implementation Method 2
using Fresnel lenses for conical illumination and highly reflective mirrors to ensure maximum light reflection and minimal attenuation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5
AI summary
The device has an illumination device (6) including LED modules to illuminate a portion of a lateral surface (10a) of a container. The illumination device is arranged in a longitudinal direction (L) of the container partially below the portion of the lateral surface, which is illuminated by the illumination device. The illumination device is arranged completely below the container. A lens body (12) is provided in a path of rays between the illumination device and the container. A tilted mirror (14) is provided in the path of rays between the container and an image acquisition device.