Image-Guided Weighing and Packaging for Accurate Product Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional weighing and packaging apparatuses often result in inappropriate processing due to lack of visual confirmation, leading to incorrect labeling and packaging of products, as users rely solely on visual inspection for matching products with designated information.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a weighing unit, packaging unit, conveyance unit, imaging unit, storage unit, and image processing unit to capture and analyze product features, determining if the product matches the intended one based on stored feature information, thereby controlling the conveyance and packaging processes to prevent inappropriate processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated weighing and packaging is performed without visual confirmation by the user, then productivity increases, but reliability deteriorates due to potential mismatch between product and designated information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual confirmation system with an optical imaging system. The imaging unit captures images of the placed product, and the image processing unit automatically compares visual features (shape, size, color, packaging) against stored reference images to verify product identity, eliminating the need for manual visual inspection while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates and stores reference copies (images) of products in advance in the storage unit. These reference images serve as templates for automatic comparison, allowing the system to verify product identity by matching captured images against stored copies without requiring human intervention
2Reliability
If the user visually confirms each product before processing, then reliability improves, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming manual verification
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-verification by automatically capturing images of placed products and comparing them against stored reference images. The imaging unit and image processing unit enable the system to independently verify product identity without requiring user time for visual confirmation, thus maintaining reliability while improving productivity
3Reliability
If image processing and feature comparison are implemented, then reliability improves through automatic product verification, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it controls the conveyance unit, coordinates the imaging unit, manages the storage unit, and directs the image processing unit. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the addition of image processing capabilities
Data Source
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AI summary
A weighing and packaging apparatus includes a weighing unit configured to weigh a first article to be weighed, a packaging unit configured to package the first article, a conveyance unit configured to convey the first article, an imaging unit configured to acquire a captured image of the first article, a storage unit configured to store a plurality of pieces of first feature information indicating respective features of a plurality of articles, an image processing unit configured to acquire second feature information indicating a feature of the first article, and a controller configured to control the conveyance unit and the packaging unit, in which the controller is configured to set a second article among the plurality of articles, generate a determination result as to whether or not the first article matches the second article, and determine whether or not the first article is conveyed to the packaging unit.