Rotating Container Inspection via Dual-Image Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inspection devices for bottles and similar containers are inefficient in detecting form defects, such as eccentricities and deviations from a rotationally-symmetrical shape, due to limitations in imaging and evaluation methods.
Innovation Solution
A device that uses at least two CCD cameras to capture images of a container region from different orientations by rotating the container between recordings, ensuring the camera axes maintain the same orientation relative to the container axis, allowing for a simple comparison of images to detect form defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing inspection devices use single camera or fixed orientation imaging, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision for detecting form defects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by rotating the container about its container axis between capturing two images. This dynamic movement allows the same camera to capture the container region from different angular positions, enabling detection of form defects through comparison of images taken at different orientations without requiring multiple fixed cameras.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by capturing two images of the container region at different angular positions during rotation, then comparing these periodically acquired images. This periodic imaging approach enables systematic detection of form defects by analyzing differences between images taken at different points in the rotation cycle.
2Productivity
If containers are inspected at high speed, then productivity increases, but measurement precision for form defects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by ensuring the container is properly positioned and rotated to a known angular position before image capture. The system pre-establishes the relationship between the camera axis and container axis, and controls the rotation to occur at predetermined intervals, allowing high-speed inspection while maintaining measurement precision through controlled periodic imaging.
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used to capture container regions, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics to replace multiple static cameras with a single camera that captures images at different angular positions through container rotation. This dynamic approach achieves the same measurement precision as multiple fixed cameras would provide, but with reduced device complexity since only one camera is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies copying by using the same camera to create multiple images of the container region from different angular positions. These copied images, taken at different points in the rotation cycle, serve the same function as would images from multiple cameras, but with simpler hardware requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A container inspection device includes at least two cameras displaced from each other in a container's direction of travel and camera axes perpendicular to that direction. Each camera records an image of the same container region when the container is directly in front it. A difference between the images indicates a defect in form of the container. A device moves the container and records these images by some combination of rotating and/or pivoting. An electronic evaluation system compares the images and ascertains a defect in the form of the inspected container if they are different.