Automated Straw Sheet Inspection and Defect Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional manual inspection of straw sheet packaging for defects such as foreign materials and damage is inefficient, inaccurate, and prone to errors due to reliance on human skill, making it difficult to quickly and reliably identify and remove defective portions.

Innovation Solution

A straw inspection apparatus comprising a main body to guide the straw sheet, a driving unit to move the sheet, first and second inspection modules to detect foreign materials and damage, a controller to determine defective areas, and a cutting unit to remove defects, enabling accurate and rapid identification and removal of defective sections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual inspection is used to check straw sheet defects, then the inspection process is simple, but the inspection accuracy and reliability are low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection accuracyVSAvoidinspection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated optical inspection system comprising cameras, light sources, and image processing units. This substitution enables precise detection of foreign materials, damage, and sealing defects that are difficult to identify through manual inspection, directly resolving the contradiction between inspection accuracy and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection system creates optical copies (images) of the straw sheet using cameras and light sources. These images are then processed to identify defects, allowing for accurate replication and analysis of the straw sheet appearance without direct manual contact. This copying mechanism enables high-precision inspection while maintaining system automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If manual inspection is used for straw sheet defects, then the equipment is simple, but the inspection speed and efficiency are low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection efficiencyVSAvoidinspection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces slow manual inspection with an automated optical inspection system that can rapidly capture and analyze images of the straw sheet. The system uses multiple cameras and light sources to simultaneously inspect different aspects of the straw sheet, dramatically increasing inspection speed and productivity while reducing the need for manual labor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection system operates continuously as the straw sheet moves through the packaging line, with cameras and sensors constantly monitoring for defects. This continuous inspection process eliminates the intermittent nature of manual inspection, maintaining constant surveillance of the straw sheet quality and significantly improving overall inspection efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If manual inspection is used for fine foreign material detection, then the equipment is simple, but the detection capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign material detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs different types of cameras and light sources targeted at specific inspection needs: high-resolution cameras for detecting fine foreign materials, backlighting for transparency inspection, and specialized lighting for surface defect detection. This localized optimization of inspection components enables precise detection of specific defect types while managing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the limited human visual system with sophisticated optical sensors and image processing algorithms that can detect fine foreign materials, subtle color variations, and minor surface defects. This substitution provides superior detection capability for fine contaminants that are difficult for human inspectors to identify consistently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If manual inspection is used for sealing defect detection, then the equipment is simple, but the detection reliability is low due to inspector skill variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection reliabilityVSAvoidinspection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual inspection with an automated optical system that consistently applies the same inspection criteria to every straw sheet. The system uses image processing algorithms to objectively evaluate sealing quality, eliminating the variability and subjectivity inherent in human inspector skill levels and ensuring reliable, repeatable inspection results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection system incorporates feedback mechanisms where inspection results are immediately processed and used to identify defective straw sheets. The system provides real-time feedback on sealing quality, allowing for immediate detection and removal of defective products, thereby improving overall inspection reliability and consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10663406B2Straw inspection apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.05.26 P&S TECH
  • US10663406B2 patent drawing
  • US10663406B2 patent drawing
  • US10663406B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A straw inspection apparatus for inspecting whether or not a straw sheet is defective comprises: a main body for guiding the transfer of a straw sheet; a driving unit for transferring the straw sheet; a first inspection module for inspecting whether or not foreign materials are present in the straw sheet moving in the main body; a second inspection module for inspecting the exterior of the straw sheet; a controller for determining whether or not the straw sheet is defective based on the inspection results of the first inspection module and the second inspection module; and a cutting unit for separating the straw sheet which is determined to be defective.