Drinking Straw Light-Guided Inspection for Sidewall Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting drinking straws, particularly those wrapped in non-transparent materials like paper, fail to effectively detect sidewall damages due to insufficient illumination and imaging under normal light conditions.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing the drinking straw as a light guide by illuminating a first portion and guiding light through internal reflections, capturing the light pattern via a camera to detect sidewall damages through light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If drinking straws are wrapped in non-transparent materials like paper for distribution, then protection and distribution functionality is improved, but inspection capability for detecting sidewall damages deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary substance that penetrates the non-transparent wrapping material to illuminate the drinking straw from within. This light mediator enables the camera to capture images of the straw through the opaque wrapping, resolving the contradiction by allowing inspection without removing the protective wrapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of light intensity and wavelength to optimize penetration through the non-transparent wrapping material. By adjusting lighting parameters (using strong light sources and specific wavelengths that penetrate paper better), the system achieves sufficient illumination for damage detection while maintaining the wrapping's protective function.
2Measurement precision
If light is transmitted through the sidewall into the drinking straw and guided by internal reflections, then damage detection capability is improved, but light loss through leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful light leakage (energy loss) into a beneficial detection signal. Light that would normally be lost through the straw walls is actually the useful signal that reveals damages - areas with holes or defects show abnormal light escape patterns that the camera detects, transforming energy loss into diagnostic information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the light leakage pattern as feedback to identify damages. The camera captures where light escapes from the straw, and this feedback information is analyzed to locate holes or defects in the sidewall, turning the energy loss into a useful detection mechanism.
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
Enables effective inspection of drinking straws and wrapped straws in opaque or translucent materials by analyzing light patterns, facilitating detection of damages and ensuring quality control.
Implementation Method 1
light on the first portion is transmitted through a sidewall of the drinking straw into the drinking straw and is guided therein by internal reflections
Data Source
AI summary
Method and arrangements for inspection of a drinking straw (101; 201) involving use of the drinking straw (101; 201) as a light guide for inspection of a sidewall (102; 202) of the drinking straw (101; 201) based on light leakage of guided light out from the drinking straw (101; 201) via the sidewall (102), such a through a damage (204) in the sidewall (102). It is illuminated (601), by means of one or more light sources (123), a first portion (131) of the drinking straw (101; 201) so that at least some of the light (127) on the first portion (131) is transmitted through a sidewall (102; 202) of the drinking straw (101; 201) into the drinking straw (101), and is guided therein. It is provided (602) one or more digital images (241) imaging another, second, portion (133; 233) of the drinking straw (101; 201) during said illumination. A light pattern captured by said one or more digital images (241) is analysed (603), corresponding to light escape of the internally reflected light out from the second portion (133) of the drinking straw (101; 201) via a sidewall (102; 202) of the drinking straw (101; 201). The damage (204) may be detected as a local spot (243) of image data discrepancy.