Dough Piece Orientation Assembly Using Dual Line Lasers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dough piece orientation systems are slow due to the need for continuous rotation and image analysis to detect the seam, which hampers the onward flow of dough pieces in processing installations.
Innovation Solution
An assembly using a positioning device with a camera and dual line lasers for illumination, allowing accurate seam detection without rotating the dough piece, enabling faster orientation and positioning of the seam towards the bottom of a baking pan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the dough piece is continuously rotated while the video camera records images for seam detection, then the seam position can be determined, but the processing speed becomes slow and limits the onward flow of dough pieces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the dough piece to bring the seam into the camera's view, the patent inverts the approach by rotating the camera system to scan across the stationary dough piece. This allows the seam to be detected without requiring the dough piece to rotate, significantly reducing processing time and increasing throughput while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by projecting light patterns (such as laser lines or structured light) onto the dough piece before camera capture. This pre-illumination creates enhanced contrast features that make the seam more detectable in a single or few static images, eliminating the need for continuous rotation and multiple image analysis
2Device complexity
If a single light source is used for illuminating the dough piece, then the device is simple, but the seam detection reliability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using multiple light sources positioned at different locations and angles around the dough piece. Each light source illuminates a specific region or aspect of the dough piece, creating complementary shadow patterns that together provide comprehensive seam detection coverage, improving reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric illumination by positioning light sources at non-uniform angles and locations relative to the dough piece. This asymmetric arrangement creates distinctive shadow patterns from multiple perspectives, enabling more reliable seam detection through pattern recognition while avoiding the complexity of symmetric multi-source configurations
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
The system efficiently determines the seam's position in a few images, eliminating the need for continuous rotation, thus enhancing the throughput of dough pieces by accurately positioning the seam for optimal placement.
Implementation Method 1
The dough piece is then illuminated such that the video camera is able to record a seam in the dough piece by means of a shadow image. Obtaining a properly discernible shadow of a seam requires the light to be incident in a grazing manner on the position where the seam is situated.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Assembly (1) for orienting dough pieces (2) comprising: a positioning device (3) having a dough piece holder (5) for positioning a dough piece (2) placed on the dough piece holder, a supply device (4) for supplying dough pieces (2) to the positioning device (3), a control device (6) for controlling the positioning device, a camera (7) placed with a viewing direction towards the dough piece holder (5) for recording images of a dough piece placed on the dough piece holder (5)and for transmitting a signal relating to the images to the control device (6), and an illumination device (8) comprising a first lamp (81), wherein the first lamp (81) is placed with a first illumination direction (91) towards the dough piece holder (5), wherein the illumination direction is placed at an angle to the viewing direction, wherein the illumination device (8) comprises at least a second lamp (82), wherein the second lamp (82) is placed with a second illumination direction (92) towards the dough piece holder (5). The lamps (81, 82) may comprise a lione laser and first and second lamp (81, 82) preferably are placed next to the camera (7) on the same side.