Rotating Vial Inspection for Foreign Substance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing product-inspection apparatuses require adjustments in the arrangement of light sources and imaging units based on the specific gravity of foreign substances relative to the liquid, complicating the inspection process.
Innovation Solution
A product-inspection apparatus that rotates the object to be inspected up and down, allowing foreign substances to behave differently from the movement of bubbles, thereby eliminating the need for adjustments in light source and imaging unit arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the light source and light receiving unit are positioned above or below the vial based on foreign substance specific gravity, then foreign substance detection accuracy is improved, but the inspection process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vial is rotated during inspection to change the position of foreign substances dynamically. By rotating the vial, foreign substances with different specific gravities move to different positions (floating substances rise, precipitated substances fall), allowing a single fixed inspection position to detect all types of foreign substances without requiring multiple fixed inspection configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system changes the rotational state of the vial as a parameter to alter the position of foreign substances. By controlling the rotation, the system can make foreign substances pass through the inspection region regardless of their specific gravity, eliminating the need to adjust light source and receiver positions based on substance properties.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple inspection configurations are prepared for different foreign substance types, then detection coverage is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A single inspection configuration with fixed light source and light receiving unit is designed to perform multiple detection functions. By rotating the vial, the same inspection position can detect floating foreign substances, precipitated foreign substances, and suspended foreign substances, making the system universal for all foreign substance types without requiring multiple specialized configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic rotation of the vial enables a static inspection configuration to achieve dynamic detection capability. The rotation mechanism allows the single inspection position to scan through all possible positions of foreign substances, providing versatile detection coverage while maintaining simple operation.
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
Simplifies the product-inspection process by eliminating the need for adjustments in light source and imaging unit arrangements based on foreign substance specific gravity, enhancing inspection efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
applying light, by a light source, to the object to be inspected from an oblique direction on one side of the object to be inspected, and receiving light that has passed through the object to be inspected from an oblique direction on the other side of the object to be inspected
Implementation Method 2
rotating the object to be inspected up and down, allowing foreign substances to behave differently from the movement of bubbles
Implementation Method 3
a foreign substance contained in an object to be inspected, which is an object in which a liquid is contained in a vial, can be detected without being affected by unevenness of the vial such as an outline part thereof based on image information
Data Source
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AI summary
A product-inspection apparatus capable of contributing to the simplification of the product-inspection of an object to be inspected is provided. A product-inspection apparatus (1) includes a rotation unit (2) configured to, when a direction of gravity is defined as a downward direction, rotate an object to be inspected (6) up and down, the object to be inspected (6) being an object in which a gas (6b) and a fluid (6c) are hermetically contained in a container (6a), a light source (3) configured to successively apply light to the object to be inspected (6) from different directions, the light being adapted to pass through the object to be inspected (6), an imaging unit (4) configured to take images of the object to be inspected (6) according to light-application timings at which the light source (3) successively applies the light to the object to be inspected (6), and a determination unit (5) configured to determine whether or not the object to be inspected (6) is a quality product based on image information taken by the imaging unit (4).