UV Illumination for Pellet Side Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting and processing pellet-shaped articles, such as tablets and caplets, face challenges in accurately distinguishing between sides with similar colors and detecting small holes, leading to potential misidentification and improper processing.
Innovation Solution
A conveyer apparatus equipped with cameras and ultraviolet (UV) light sources that determine the orientation and characteristics of each side of pellet-shaped articles, using UV illumination to enhance contrast and accuracy in imaging, and process devices that drill holes according to specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If white light imaging is used to inspect pellet-shaped articles, then the inspection system can identify articles and detect features, but the system fails to accurately distinguish sides with similar colors and cannot reliably detect small holes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the illumination parameter from white light to ultraviolet light with wavelength between 300-400nm. This parameter change enables the imaging system to distinguish between sides with similar colors by exploiting differential UV reflectance or fluorescence properties of the pellet surfaces, thereby improving measurement precision for side identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies UV illumination locally to enhance the visibility of specific features. The UV light source is positioned to illuminate the pellet-shaped articles in the imaging field, creating enhanced contrast for hole detection and side differentiation. This localized UV illumination improves reliability of hole detection without requiring system-wide changes.
2Illumination intensity
If white light is used for imaging, then the system can operate with standard lighting, but it produces insufficient contrast for distinguishing similar-colored sides and detecting small holes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spectral parameter of illumination from visible white light to ultraviolet light in the 300-400nm range. This parameter change produces superior contrast for distinguishing between similarly-colored sides of pellets, as different materials and coatings exhibit distinct UV reflectance or fluorescence characteristics, thereby preventing loss of identification information.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV light source acts as an intermediary that mediates between the imaging system and the pellet-shaped articles. By introducing UV illumination as an intermediate step, the system enhances the optical contrast of subtle surface features and color differences that are invisible under white light, preserving critical identification information.
3Shape
If the hole size is very small compared to the overall pellet size, then the pellet maintains its structural integrity, but the shadow cast by the hole becomes too small to accurately identify its presence or absence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the illumination wavelength parameter to ultraviolet light, which enhances the optical contrast of small holes relative to the pellet surface. The UV illumination creates more pronounced shadow effects and refraction patterns for small holes, improving measurement precision for hole detection while the pellets maintain their structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from visible light imaging to UV imaging, effectively changing the dimensional space of detection. By operating in the UV spectral dimension rather than the visible spectrum, the system enhances the detectability of small holes that are invisible or indistinguishable under conventional white light illumination.
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
The system accurately identifies and processes each side of pellet-shaped articles, ensuring correct processing and reducing defects by utilizing UV light for improved contrast and precision in imaging and processing.
Implementation Method 1
a post-processing light source configured to illuminate the pellet-shaped articles with ultraviolet (UV) light
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyer apparatus may inspect and process pellet-shaped articles having a first side with a first characteristic and a second side having a second characteristic. The conveyer apparatus may include: a conveyer configured to convey pellet-shaped articles, a first pre-processing camera configured to generate a first pre-processing image of each of the pellet-shaped articles, a controller configured to receive the first pre-processing image and determine whether the first side or the second side of each of the pellet-shaped articles is facing the first lateral side of the conveyer path, a first processing device and a second processing device configured to process the first side of each of the pellet-shaped articles to produce a third characteristic, a first post-processing camera and a second post-processing camera, a post-processing light source configured to illuminate pellet-shaped articles with ultraviolet light; and an ejection unit configured to eject individual ones of the pellet-shaped articles.