Multisegment Rod Inspection With Light-Guide Orientation Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting multisegment articles, particularly those with visually identical ends, struggle to accurately identify the orientation of articles arranged in superposed rows due to attenuated light irradiation, leading to inspection errors and complex, expensive structures.
Innovation Solution
A unit and method utilizing a light guide positioned around articles to surround their lateral surfaces, conveying light from one row to another, allowing precise and reliable orientation identification by detecting different light absorption based on segment lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lighting device is positioned to emit light beam in the direction of lateral surface of articles, then orientation identification is enabled, but inspection precision deteriorates for articles in inner rows due to attenuated light irradiation
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary device to transmit light from the lighting device to articles in inner rows. The light guide captures light from the lighting device and directs it through its internal structure to illuminate articles that would otherwise be in shadow, ensuring uniform light distribution across all rows without requiring additional lighting devices.
2Measurement precision
If duplicate lighting devices are positioned on both sides to illuminate inner rows, then inspection coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a light transmission medium, a light distribution system, and a structural support element. Instead of requiring separate lighting devices for different rows, the single light guide performs the illumination function for all articles including inner rows, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive inspection coverage.
3Device complexity
If ordinary image capturing methods are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but inspection effectiveness becomes fruitless for articles with visually identical ends
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection method utilizes optical property changes rather than visual appearance changes. By measuring light absorption characteristics at different positions along the article axis, the system creates distinguishable optical signals based on the varying absorption properties of different segments (filter segment vs. closing segment), enabling identification without relying on visual color or surface differences.
4Reliability
If light beam irradiation is used to distinguish ends, then orientation identification is enabled, but structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide acts as a mediating structure that simplifies the overall system. Instead of requiring complex multi-device illumination arrangements, the light guide integrates the light transmission function into a single component that can be positioned alongside the articles, reducing structural complexity while maintaining reliable orientation identification capability.
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
Ensures high reliability in identifying the orientation of multisegment articles, particularly in superposed rows, with a simplified and cost-effective inspection structure.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide (500), positioned to surround a group of articles (100), arranged in parallel rows, around the respective lateral surfaces, and irradiating the articles with a light beam incident upon the light guiding device
Implementation Method 2
Depending on the orientation of the article, the intensity of the light that emerges from the end being examined differs and this information can be used to identify the way the article in the group of articles is oriented
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A unit (1) for inspecting multisegment, rod-shaped articles (100) comprises at least one supporting element (2) having at least one containment compartment for a plurality of articles (100), at least one emitting device (3) configured to emit a light beam (F) in the direction of the lateral surface of at least one article (100), at least one detecting device (4) configured to capture the light emitted by an end surface of the article (100) to generate an identification signal identifying the intensity of the light captured, and a control unit (5) configured to receive and process the identification signal in order to obtain information relating to the orientation of each article (100). The unit (1) comprises at least one light guide (500) at least partly surrounding the containment compartment and configured to receive the light produced by the light beam (F) and to convey the light around the plurality of articles (100) positioned in the containment compartment.