Loom Stop-Mark Inspection Camera Plate Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stop-mark inspection apparatuses for looms require operators to check images on a monitor screen to ensure the camera is correctly positioned, making the process complicated and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A stop-mark inspection apparatus with a camera device and support frame, including illumination lights and a plate member with positioning marks, allows for automatic image analysis of the woven fabric without the need for manual image checking, ensuring accurate and efficient inspection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the operator checks the image on the monitor screen to determine whether the camera main body appropriately photographs the woven fabric, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the operation complexity increases and inspection efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The plate member with positioning marks enables the camera device to self-position on the woven fabric without requiring operator intervention to check monitor images. The positioning marks serve as visual guides that allow the camera to be correctly positioned through simple alignment, making the system self-sufficient for positioning tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning marks are pre-marked on the plate member at specific locations corresponding to the camera's photographing area. This preliminary preparation of reference marks eliminates the need for post-positioning verification through monitor checking, as the correct position is indicated in advance by the alignment of these marks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the operator manually adjusts the camera position while checking the monitor image, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the inspection time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidinspection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The camera device with positioning marks on the plate member enables automatic self-positioning by aligning the marks with the fabric pattern. This eliminates the time-consuming manual adjustment and monitor-checking cycle, as the operator can directly position the camera using the visual guides without repeated verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning marks are pre-positioned on the plate member to correspond with features on the woven fabric. This preliminary setup allows for immediate correct positioning upon alignment, eliminating the iterative adjustment process that consumes inspection time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the camera device is made portable and placeable on the fabric surface, then the adaptability is improved, but the positioning accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveportability and adaptabilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The plate member acts as an intermediary between the camera device and the woven fabric. It provides a stable mounting surface with integrated positioning marks that ensure accurate positioning even though the camera itself is portable and can be placed on the fabric surface. The plate member mediates the connection while maintaining positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3594387A1Stop-mark inspection apparatus for loom
Publication Date: 2020.01.15 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP3594387A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3594387A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3594387A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The stop-mark inspection apparatus (17, 50) for a loom (10) includes a camera device (18) having a camera main body (19) photographing a woven fabric (W), and is configured to inspect for presence or absence of a stop mark in the woven fabric (W) through image analysis of a photographed image. The camera device (18) is placeable on a surface of the woven fabric (W), and includes a support frame (20) supporting the camera main body (19), an illumination light (25) adjusting illuminance of a photographing area (E) of the camera main body (19), and a plate member (35, 52) provided at a bottom of the support frame (20) so that the plate member (35, 52) is contactable with the surface of the woven fabric (W). The plate member (35, 52) includes a positioning mark (42, 43, 56, 57) extending in a transverse direction of the photographing area (E) of the camera main body (19).