Automated part sorting system
First Claim
1. A part sorting system for automatically inspecting a plurality of uninspected parts, the system sorting acceptable parts from defective parts, the system comprising:
- a feed conveyer for receiving a plurality of uninspected parts, the feed conveyor moving the uninspected parts through an inspection area;
a sorting camera for capturing an image of each of the plurality of uninspected parts as the plurality of uninspected parts move through the inspection area;
at least one rejection valve, the rejection valve functioning to direct a defective part such that the defective part is separated from inspected acceptable parts; and
a computer system, including;
a processor coupled to the feed conveyer, the sorting camera and the at least one rejection valve, wherein the processor executes an inspection routine that controls the speed of the feed conveyer, the scanning rate of the sorting camera and the at least one rejection valve, and wherein the processor executing the inspection routine compares only edge pixels of the captured image to at least one stored template image to determine whether each of the uninspected parts is defective.
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Abstract
A part sorting system for automatically inspecting a plurality of uninspected parts includes a feed conveyor, a sorting camera, at least one rejection valve and a computer system that includes a processor. The feed conveyor receives a plurality of uninspected parts and moves the uninspected parts through an inspection area. The sorting camera captures an image of each of the plurality of inspected parts as the plurality of uninspected parts moves through the inspection area. The rejection value functions to direct a defective part such that the defective part is separated from inspected acceptable parts. The processor is coupled to the feed conveyor, the sorting camera and the at least one rejection valve. The processor controls the conveyor, the sorting camera and the at least one rejection valve and compares only edge pixels of the captured image to determine whether an inspected part is defective.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A part sorting system for automatically inspecting a plurality of uninspected parts, the system sorting acceptable parts from defective parts, the system comprising:
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a feed conveyer for receiving a plurality of uninspected parts, the feed conveyor moving the uninspected parts through an inspection area;
a sorting camera for capturing an image of each of the plurality of uninspected parts as the plurality of uninspected parts move through the inspection area;
at least one rejection valve, the rejection valve functioning to direct a defective part such that the defective part is separated from inspected acceptable parts; and
a computer system, including;
a processor coupled to the feed conveyer, the sorting camera and the at least one rejection valve, wherein the processor executes an inspection routine that controls the speed of the feed conveyer, the scanning rate of the sorting camera and the at least one rejection valve, and wherein the processor executing the inspection routine compares only edge pixels of the captured image to at least one stored template image to determine whether each of the uninspected parts is defective. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for automatically inspecting a plurality of uninspected parts and sorting acceptable parts from defective parts, the method comprising the steps of:
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moving a plurality of uninspected parts through an inspection area;
capturing an image of each of the plurality of uninspected parts as the plurality of uninspected parts move through the inspection area;
comparing only edge pixels of the captured image of each of the plurality of uninspected parts to at least one stored template image to determine whether each of the uninspected parts is defective; and
directing a defective part such that the defective part is separated from inspected acceptable parts. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A sorting system for automatically inspecting a plurality of uninspected objects, the system sorting acceptable objects from defective objects, the system comprising:
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a feed conveyer for receiving a plurality of uninspected objects, the feed conveyor moving the uninspected objects through an inspection area;
a sorting camera positioned adjacent the inspection area, the sorting camera for capturing an image of each of the plurality of uninspected objects as the plurality of uninspected objects move through the inspection area;
at least one rejection valve positioned for directing a defective object such that the defective object is separated from inspected acceptable objects;
a light source positioned for backlighting the plurality of uninspected objects as the plurality of uninspected objects move through the inspection area, wherein the inspection area is not located on a belt of the feed conveyor; and
a computer system, including;
a processor coupled to the feed conveyer, the sorting camera, the at least one rejection valve and the light source, wherein the processor executes an inspection routine that controls the speed of the feed conveyer, the scanning rate of the sorting camera, the at least one rejection valve and the light provide by the light source, and wherein the processor executing the inspection routine compares the captured image to at least one stored template image to determine whether each of the uninspected objects is defective.
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20. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor only compares edge pixels of the captured image to the at least one stored template image to determine whether each of the uninspected objects is defective.
Specification