Container Tilting Inspection With Marker-Based Particle Differentiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques struggle to accurately distinguish foreign matter from air bubbles and stains on containers, as they do not move when the container is stationary, making it difficult to differentiate between the two.

Innovation Solution

A determination system that tilts or swings a container while capturing images with a fixed camera, using a marker synchronized with the container's movement to differentiate between foreign matter and stains by their movement relative to the marker.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a container is imaged in a stationary state, then the imaging process is simple, but it becomes difficult to distinguish foreign matter from stains and scratches on the container

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging process simplicityVSAvoidforeign matter identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The container is tilted at a predetermined angle during imaging instead of being kept stationary. This dynamic positioning allows foreign matter to move relative to the container wall while stains and scratches remain fixed, enabling differentiation between them based on their movement characteristics during the tilting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The container undergoes periodic tilting motion at a predetermined angle, creating repeated movement cycles. This periodic action allows multiple imaging captures during different phases of the tilting cycle, providing sufficient information to distinguish moving foreign matter from stationary defects through temporal analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If the container is tilted to distinguish foreign matter, then identification accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign matter identification accuracyVSAvoidcontainer handling mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the tilting angle parameter to a predetermined angle that optimizes the separation between foreign matter and container defects. By carefully selecting this angle parameter, the system achieves effective differentiation while minimizing the mechanical complexity of the tilting mechanism, as only a single angular parameter needs to be controlled rather than complex multi-axis movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4141423B1Determination system
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 NEC CORP
  • EP4141423B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4141423B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4141423B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A grasping device includes: a grasping unit configured to grasp a container filled with liquid; a tilting unit configured to at least tilt the container in a state where the grasping unit grasps the container; and a maker installed at a part tilting in synchronism with the container when the container tilts and configured to move in conjunction with movement of the container.