Optical Inspection of Drive Belt Transverse Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drive belt manufacturing processes face challenges in ensuring the dimensional accuracy and cleanliness of transverse elements, particularly the depth and cleanness of holes, and maintaining the flatness of these elements, which are critical for the quality and performance of the drive belt, with existing methods risking damage to the elements during inspection and being non-universal.
Innovation Solution
An optical method using a laser to generate a planar beam of light and a camera to detect reflections from the transverse elements, allowing for automated inspection of hole depth, cleanness, and pillar torsion without damaging the elements, enabling rapid and reliable quality control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional inspection methods using slits are used to check pillar torsion, then flatness can be monitored, but the transverse elements are prone to damage in the form of scratches, dents and/or bulges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical slit-based inspection method with an optical measurement system. A laser projects a line pattern onto the transverse element, and a camera captures the reflected light to detect pillar torsion and flatness deviations, eliminating direct mechanical contact that causes damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy or projection of the measurement pattern (laser line) onto the transverse element surface. By analyzing the distortion of this projected pattern in the camera image, the system indirectly measures geometric deviations without physically contacting or damaging the element.
2Productivity
If automated optical inspection is implemented, then productivity and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal optical inspection system that can measure multiple parameters (pillar torsion, flatness, hole depth, contamination) using the same basic laser-camera setup. By adjusting the projection angle and analysis algorithm, the system handles different measurement tasks without requiring separate dedicated devices for each parameter.
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
This method provides accurate, automated, and cost-effective quality control, reducing the risk of element damage and ensuring compliance with predefined criteria, thereby improving the quality and performance of drive belts by effectively rejecting non-conforming elements.
Implementation Method 1
generating with a laser (10) a substantially planar beam of light (I)
Implementation Method 2
detecting with a camera (11) the reflection (R-I) of the beam of light (I) from the said respective main face (40, 41)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides for a method for monitoring the quality of a transverse element (32) produced in or for a drive belt (3) manufacturing process, which method comprises the steps of: - generating a substantially planar beam of light (I), travelling in a direction away from a source (10) thereof towards the element (32) thus illuminating a part of a respective main face (40; 41) of the element (32), - detecting the reflection (R-I) of the light beam (I) from the said respective main face (40; 41), and - relating the quality of the transverse element (32) to the intensity, shape or other property of the said reflection (R-I).