Spray Head Impact Zone Analysis for Non-Destructive QC

The patent creates a visual copy of the spray pattern by projecting it onto a receiving surface that forms an image on a camera sensor. This optical copying method allows measurement of spray properties without physically contacting or destroying the spray device, enabling non-destructive testing that maintains device integrity for continued use in production

The patent replaces mechanical contact-based spray analysis with an optical system. Instead of using physical probes or collectors that would interfere with or damage the spray device, the invention uses light projection and camera imaging to capture spray characteristics, thereby eliminating mechanical interference and enabling non-destructive measurement

The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated optical imaging system. The camera captures the spray pattern image, and image processing algorithms automatically analyze the visual data to determine spray quality metrics. This substitution of human judgment with automated image analysis maintains measurement precision while eliminating manual intervention and enabling full automation of the testing process

The patent introduces an image processing system as an intermediary between the spray device and the evaluation process. Instead of direct human observation, the spray pattern is captured as an image and processed through computational algorithms that automatically extract quantitative metrics, serving as a mediator that bridges physical spray characteristics and automated quality assessment

The patent replaces expensive, complex schlieren imaging equipment with simple, inexpensive optical components. Instead of requiring sophisticated schlieren setups with specialized lighting and optics, the invention uses basic projection geometry and a standard camera to achieve spray angle measurement, dramatically reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining adequate measurement precision for quality control applications

The patent extracts only the essential measurement function from complex schlieren imaging. Rather than implementing the full schlieren system with its elaborate optical path and specialized components, the invention isolates and utilizes only the fundamental principle of visualizing flow patterns through projection, achieving spray angle measurement with a simplified optical arrangement that eliminates unnecessary complexity