Optical Inspection Station for Glaze Defect Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inspecting translucent or transparent hollow objects, such as bottles, for glaze defects that reflect light are either unreliable or overly complex, particularly in detecting microcracks that can lead to object destruction during mechanical or thermal shock, and often require multiple cameras or complex optical systems.
Innovation Solution
An optical inspection station with optical deflection elements arranged on either side of the optical sighting axis of a matrix camera, utilizing spherical lenses, cylindrical lenses, prisms, or mirrors to capture images of the object from multiple angles, allowing for the detection of both vertical and horizontal glazes with a reduced number of cameras and simpler installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple cameras or complex optical systems are used to detect glaze defects from multiple angles, then the reliability of defect detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical inspection system into multiple functional zones using optical deflection elements (prisms or mirrors) positioned at different angles around the inspection axis. Each deflection element directs light from a specific angular sector to the camera, effectively segmenting the viewing field without requiring multiple cameras. This segmentation approach maintains high detection reliability while simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical deflection elements that redirect light paths in three-dimensional space, allowing a single camera to capture images from multiple angular perspectives. By adding the dimensional aspect of light redirection through prisms or mirrors, the system achieves multi-angle inspection capability without proportionally increasing the number of cameras, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Device complexity
If a single camera is used with optical deflection elements, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to capture images from multiple angles may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical deflection elements (prisms or mirrors) as intermediary components between the object being inspected and the single camera. These intermediaries redirect light rays from different angular sectors around the inspection axis to the camera sensor, enabling the single camera to capture images that would otherwise require multiple cameras positioned at different angles. This intermediary approach preserves multi-angle capture capability while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the inspection system by introducing elements with specific refractive indices and geometric configurations (prisms or mirrors at different angles). These parameter changes enable light from multiple angular directions to be redirected to the single camera, effectively transforming a single-view system into a multi-view system without adding multiple cameras, thus maintaining measurement precision while reducing complexity.
3Reliability
If optical deflection elements are added to redirect light paths, then the ability to detect glazes is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical deflection elements (prisms or mirrors) that serve multiple functions simultaneously: they redirect light from different angular sectors to the single camera, enable multi-angle inspection capability, and can be configured to inspect both vertical and horizontal glazes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate optical systems for different inspection angles, thereby improving glaze detection capability while limiting the overall increase in device complexity.
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 solution enhances the reliability and safety of detecting glaze defects by capturing images from different viewing angles, increasing the probability of identifying light-reflecting defects and distinguishing stationary from mobile reflections, thus improving defect detection without the need for numerous cameras or complex optical systems.
Implementation Method 1
a series of optical elements 11 for deflecting in air the light beams reflected by the inspection area Z
Implementation Method 2
The deflecting optical elements 11 are made by spherical lenses, cylindrical lenses, prisms or by mirrors
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical inspection station (1) comprising: an illumination system (6) capable of delivering a series of light beams illuminating an inspection region of the object at various angles of incidence; a camera (8) equipped with a lens for producing images of the inspection region during rotation of the object (2); and a unit for analyzing and processing the images taken by the camera so as to detect the presence of reflecting defects in the images. According to the invention, the optical inspection station includes a series of optical elements (11) for deflecting, in the air, rays reflected by the inspection region, these being placed between the inspection region and the lens so as to form, in each image, a series of views of the inspection region taken at different angles of viewing.