Visual Inspection Imaging With Concurrent Height Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional visual inspection devices require separate operations for imaging and height measurement, leading to prolonged inspection times due to sequential performance of these tasks.
Innovation Solution
A visual inspection device that integrates an imager and a height measurer, allowing concurrent height measurement during the carrying-in or carrying-out process of the inspection object, thereby absorbing height measurement time into the object's movement time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If imaging and height measurement are performed sequentially using separate means, then measurement precision is maintained, but inspection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the imager and height measurer into an integrated inspection system that processes the inspection object simultaneously. The imager captures images while the height measurer measures dimensions during the same carrying operation, merging two separate sequential operations into one concurrent process, thereby reducing total inspection time while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection object is continuously carried through the inspection device while both imaging and height measurement operations are performed concurrently during the carrying process. This eliminates idle time between operations and maintains continuous useful action throughout the inspection process
2Measurement precision
If imaging means is immobilized and inspection object is moved for imaging, then imaging quality is maintained, but inspection time increases due to sequential operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the immobilized imager with the height measurer in a configuration where both devices observe the moving inspection object simultaneously. The imager remains fixed while the height measurer is positioned to measure during the object's carry-in or carry-out motion, enabling concurrent operations without compromising imaging quality
Solution Approach 2:
Height measurement is performed during the carry-in or carry-out process before or after the main imaging operation, utilizing the motion time that would otherwise be idle. This preliminary or concurrent action reduces the total inspection cycle time while maintaining the quality of the primary imaging 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
This integration significantly reduces the overall time required for visual inspection by overlapping height measurement with object handling, thus enhancing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
height measurement means performs measurement while moving the inspection object with respect to the height measurement means
Implementation Method 2
laser displacement meter or the like
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to shorten time required for visual inspection. A visual inspection device (1) configured to inspect an appearance of an inspection object (30), the visual inspection device (1) including: an imager (3) configured to image the inspection object (30) arranged at a predetermined position of the visual inspection device (1); and a height measurer (11, 12) configured to measure a height of the inspection object (30) carried into the visual inspection device (1) or carried out from the visual inspection device (1).