Non-Destructive Viscous Liquid Placement Verification in Degassing Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ensuring proper placement of viscous liquids, such as silicon oil, in one-way degassing valves is challenging, particularly in production settings, as it often requires destructive testing and can lead to inefficiencies and operational issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for automatically and non-destructively determining the proper placement of viscous liquids in one-way degassing valves using captured images and comparison with pre-defined models, allowing for real-time inspection and validation before installation, leveraging existing image capture devices and control circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If destructive testing is used to verify liquid placement in one-way degassing valves, then placement accuracy can be confirmed, but production efficiency decreases and time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid placement accuracyVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces destructive mechanical testing with optical imaging technology. An image capture device takes pictures of the liquid placement in the valve, and a control circuit analyzes these images to determine if the liquid is properly positioned. This substitution eliminates the need to destroy valves for testing, thereby maintaining production efficiency while ensuring placement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an optical copy (image) of the liquid placement inside the valve instead of physically destroying the valve to inspect it. The image capture device creates a visual replica of the internal structure, allowing inspection without damage. This copying approach enables non-destructive verification of liquid placement, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If destructive testing is performed on one-way degassing valves, then proper liquid placement can be verified, but operational continuity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve functionality verificationVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes mechanical destruction with optical imaging to verify valve functionality. The image capture device and control circuit provide a non-destructive method to confirm proper liquid placement, ensuring reliability without interrupting production flow or extending processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection system is integrated into the production line, allowing valves to be self-verified during normal operation. The automated imaging and analysis occur as part of the manufacturing process itself, eliminating the need for separate testing steps that would extend production time while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If manual inspection methods are used for liquid placement, then flexibility is maintained, but measurement precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection flexibilityVSAvoidliquid placement detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection with automated optical imaging and digital image analysis. The control circuit processes the captured images to precisely determine liquid placement, providing superior measurement precision compared to human eyes while maintaining operational flexibility through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides automated feedback through image analysis, objectively determining whether liquid placement meets specifications. This feedback mechanism eliminates human subjectivity and variability, delivering consistent, high-precision measurements while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8869844B2Apparatus to facilitate determining proper placement of a liquid

Publication Date: 2014.10.28 KRAFT FOODS GROUP BRANDS LLC

AI summary

An apparatus includes means for providing one-way degassing valves to be installed on corresponding containers; means for placing a viscous liquid in each of the plurality of one-way degassing valves to provide a corresponding plurality of installable one-way degassing valves; means for capturing an image of at least a portion of at least some of the plurality of installable one-way degassing valves; and control means for automatically and non-destructively determining for the at least some of the plurality of installable one-way degassing valves, prior to installation on the corresponding containers, by using the image, whether the viscous liquid has been properly placed.