Position-Specific Reference Images for Packaging Blank Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quality inspection systems for packaging material blanks are inadequate in accurately distinguishing between good and insufficient quality due to superimposed variations and tolerances across all blanks on a sheet, leading to incorrect acceptance or rejection.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generates individual reference images for each blank position on a sheet, allowing precise comparison of scanned images with dedicated reference images, thereby isolating position-specific variations and improving sensitivity in quality assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single reference image is used for all blanks on a sheet, then the inspection process is simple and fast, but the measurement precision of print-to-process register deviations deteriorates due to superimposed variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the inspection process into position-specific segments by generating individual reference images for each blank position on the sheet. This segmentation isolates position-specific variations (such as register deviations and tolerances) so that each blank is compared against its own position-specific reference image, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly compromising inspection speed.
2Measurement precision
If individual reference images are generated for each blank position, then the measurement precision of quality inspection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-generating individual reference images for each blank position before the actual inspection process. These position-specific reference images are stored and reused for comparing against scanned images of blanks, which improves measurement precision while avoiding the need for complex real-time processing during inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating reference images that represent ideal or average quality standards for each blank position. These reference images are then copied and used as comparison templates during inspection, allowing the system to maintain high measurement precision without requiring complex analytical algorithms during the actual inspection process.
3Reliability
If position-specific variations are isolated for each blank, then the reliability of quality determination is improved, but the loss of time for processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the time-consuming task of generating individual reference images in advance, before the actual inspection process. This preliminary action separates the reference image generation time from the inspection time, so that position-specific variations are isolated and reliability is improved without adding time loss during the critical inspection phase.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of inspecting the quality of blanks (2n) to be processed into packaging material, includes the following steps: A carrier (1) with a plurality of blanks (2n) is supplied. Each blank (2n) is identified in accordance with its position (n) on the carrier (1), and a scanned image (Sn) of each blank (2) is obtained, and each scanned image (Sn) is compared with a reference image (Rn) associated with the specific position (n) of the blank (2n) from which the image was taken. Based on the result of the comparison, the respective blank (2n) is accepted or rejected. Furthermore, there is a quality inspection system (10) comprising a digital imaging unit (12) for scanning images of blanks (2n) on a sheet (1), a unit (16) for generating individual reference images for each blank, a storage (18) for storing the individual reference images (Rn), and a comparator (20) for comparing scanned images (Sn) of a blank with the individual reference image (Rn) for this blank (2n).