Automated Imaging Delay Adjustment for Conveyor Line Inspection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing systems for manufacturing lines require labor-intensive and time-consuming adjustments to determine the delay in trigger signals for capturing images of test targets, often necessitating two operators and repetitive trial-and-error processes to center the test target within the imaging range.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device that receives detection signals from sensors along the manufacturing line, processes captured images, and automatically sets the delay for imaging commands based on the target's position, allowing for quick determination of the optimal imaging timing without the need for repeated adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual trial-and-error adjustment of delay amount is performed by moving the manufacturing line and visually checking images, then the imaging timing can be adjusted, but labor and time are excessively required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging timing accuracyVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical trial-and-error adjustment method with an automated computational system. The image processing device automatically calculates the optimal delay amount by processing captured images and detecting target object positions, eliminating the need for manual trial-and-error adjustments while maintaining imaging timing accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically determining the optimal delay amount through image processing and position detection. The device uses its own captured images to calculate and set the delay parameter without requiring external manual intervention, thereby reducing both labor and adjustment time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual adjustment of sensor and monitor positions is performed to center the target object, then proper imaging can be achieved, but two operators are required when sensors are spaced apart

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget positioning accuracyVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning of sensors and monitors with an automated image processing system. The device automatically detects the target object's position in captured images and calculates the appropriate delay amount, eliminating the need for operators to physically adjust sensor and monitor positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The image processing device acts as an intermediary between the sensor system and the display system. It processes the raw sensor data, detects target positions, and provides corrected imaging timing parameters, thereby eliminating the need for direct manual coordination between multiple operators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the moving speed of the manufacturing line is changed, then production flexibility is improved, but sensor positions must be re-adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speed adaptabilityVSAvoidsensor positioning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the delay parameter based on the manufacturing line's moving speed. The system detects changes in conveyance speed and automatically recalculates the optimal delay amount to maintain accurate target positioning, eliminating the need for physical sensor re-positioning when production speed changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2367151B1Image processing device and image processing method
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 OMRON CORP
  • EP2367151B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2367151B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2367151B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention quickly decides a delay time for specifying an image capturing timing. An image processing device receives a captured image as input from an image capturing device installed in a conveying mechanism which conveys and tests works. The image processing device makes the image capturing device capture images a plurality of times at a predetermined time interval. Based on the position of the work detected from the captured image outputted from the image capturing device by capturing the images at a predetermined time interval and the target position set by the user's operation, the image processing device derives the delay time required for capturing the image at the timing when the work is positioned near the target position, and sets the derived delay time for the image capturing timing of the image capturing device.