Optical Plug Gage for Container Mouth Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container inspection technologies face challenges in accurately measuring the inside diameter of containers with a punt due to issues like excessive light absorption and refraction, leading to unreliable inspection results.
Innovation Solution
An optical plug gage apparatus with light sources positioned adjacent to the container base and below the half-height line, directing light through the side wall onto the punt, and a light sensor to capture and process images of the container mouth, reducing absorption and refraction issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light sources are positioned to illuminate the container interior directly from above, then the inspection of container mouth parameters can be performed, but excessive light absorption and refraction occur leading to unreliable inspection results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional illumination approach by positioning light sources at the bottom of the container rather than above it. This reversal allows light to travel through the container interior from the punt upward, eliminating excessive absorption and refraction that occur with top-down illumination, thereby improving inspection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The punt of the container serves as an intermediary reflective surface. Light sources positioned at the bottom illuminate the punt, which then reflects light upward through the container interior to the mouth. This intermediary reflection path reduces direct absorption and refraction issues compared to conventional illumination methods
2Measurement precision
If conventional illumination methods are used for containers with punt, then inspection equipment can be simpler, but measurement precision of container mouth inside diameter deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning light sources specifically at the bottom region of the container adjacent to the punt, rather than using uniform illumination throughout. This localized illumination strategy optimizes light path quality for measuring the container mouth inside diameter while maintaining reasonable system 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 approach provides reliable and accurate inspection of container mouths by minimizing light absorption and refraction, resulting in more precise measurements and improved commercial acceptability.
Implementation Method 1
light energy is directed through a side wall of the container and onto the punt of the container base such that at least a portion of the light energy is reflected off the punt to extend through the container mouth to the light sensor
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
An apparatus and method for inspecting a container having a mouth, and a base with a punt opposite of the container mouth. Light energy is directed into the container and through the container mouth, using at least one light source, and light energy transmitted through the container mouth is sensed. The at least one light source is disposed on at least one side of the container so that the light energy is directed through a side wall of the container and onto the punt of the container base such that at least a portion of the light energy is reflected off the punt to extend through the container mouth to the light sensor.