Cylindrical Container Inspection With Rotation-Synchronized Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting cylindrical containers using line scan cameras require movement mechanisms that introduce disturbances, inaccuracies, and limit inspection to one container at a time.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing an area scan camera with a two-dimensional recording medium and rotating the containers or their contents about a longitudinal axis while stationary, capturing sequences of pixel rows aligned with the container's longitudinal axis to form two-dimensional images without mechanical movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a line scan camera is used to inspect cylindrical containers, then optical distortions are minimized, but only one container can be inspected at a time and movement mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional line scan imaging to two-dimensional area scan imaging. The area scan camera captures the entire container surface in a single shot, eliminating the need for sequential line scans and mechanical movement. This dimensional change enables simultaneous inspection of multiple containers while maintaining image accuracy through the use of rotation-synchronized capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical movement mechanisms (such as moving the camera or rotating the container mechanically) with a software-based solution. The area scan camera remains stationary while synchronization software coordinates the capture timing with the container rotation, eliminating complex mechanical systems and their associated errors.
2Productivity
If movable mirror optics are used to track container movement, then continuous inspection is possible, but movement mechanisms introduce disturbances and inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical tracking systems (movable mirror optics) with a stationary area scan camera combined with rotation-synchronized image capture. The camera remains fixed while the synchronization mechanism coordinates capture timing with container rotation, eliminating mechanical disturbances and improving measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The container's own rotation is utilized as the tracking mechanism. Instead of requiring external mechanical systems to follow container movement, the system leverages the container's inherent rotational motion and synchronizes image capture accordingly, eliminating the need for separate tracking mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the line scan camera moves back and forth along the transport direction, then multiple containers can be inspected sequentially, but inspection time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses two-dimensional area scan imaging to capture entire container surfaces simultaneously, eliminating the need for sequential line scans. This allows multiple containers to be inspected in parallel within the same field of view, dramatically reducing inspection cycle time while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary area scan camera continuously captures images of multiple containers passing through its field of view without interruption. The rotation-synchronized capture ensures continuous useful action across multiple containers simultaneously, eliminating the back-and-forth movement and idle time associated with sequential inspection.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for inspecting cylindrical containers (10), comprising the steps of: providing an area scan camera (12) having a coverage (14); providing the containers (10); transporting the containers (10) in a transport direction (16) through the coverage (14) of the area scan camera (12); rotating the containers (10) and/or a liquid (18) accommodated in the containers (10) about a longitudinal axis (20) of the relevant container (10) in a direction of rotation (22) while the containers (10) are located in the coverage (14) of the area scan camera (12); capturing at least one sequence of pixel rows (26) by means of the area scan camera (12), wherein the pixel rows (26) are aligned with a specified area of a container (10) or with a specified area of a container (10) from various rotational positions of the container (10). The invention also relates to a device (32) for inspecting cylindrical containers (10).