Movable Image Capture Device for Height-Adaptive Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image capture devices used in article inspection systems often fail to correctly read bar codes and measure article sizes due to defocusing caused by varying article heights, leading to distortion and measurement inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
An image acquisition system comprising an image capture device and a guide mechanism that adjusts the spacing between the device and the article surface to a predetermined working distance, ensuring clear image capture without focal length adjustments, thereby avoiding image distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If auto focus lenses are used to adjust for varying article heights, then the image capture device can maintain focus on articles of different sizes, but image distortion occurs that prevents correct bar code reading and size measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The image capture device is mounted on a movable platform that can dynamically adjust its position along the vertical axis to change the working distance between the device and articles of different heights. This dynamic positioning allows the device to maintain a fixed focal length while adapting to varying article sizes, avoiding the distortion caused by auto-focus lenses.
2Manufacturing precision
If the image capture device is positioned at a fixed working distance, then image distortion is avoided and bar codes can be read accurately, but the device cannot correctly capture images of articles with varying heights
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a movable mounting mechanism that enables the image capture device to dynamically adjust its vertical position. This allows the device to maintain a predetermined working distance for accurate imaging while adapting to articles of different heights, thus resolving the contradiction between fixed positioning accuracy and adaptability to varying article sizes.
3Reliability
If the image capture device is moved closer to taller articles to maintain focus, then focus is achieved, but the spacing becomes inconsistent leading to measurement inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The movable platform allows the image capture device to dynamically adjust its position to maintain focus on articles of different heights. By controlling the movement to achieve proper focus while monitoring and maintaining the predetermined working distance, the system ensures both focus reliability and spacing consistency for accurate measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
An image acquisition system comprises an image capture device and a guide mechanism. The image capture device captures an image of at least a part of a surface of an article located on an article placement surface. The guide mechanism is positioned to be separated from the article placement surface. The image capture device is movably mounted on the guide mechanism such that the image capture device is movable along the guide mechanism to adjust a spacing between the image capture device and the surface of the article located on the article placement surface. The image capture device captures the image when the spacing is equal to a predetermined working distance.