MEASUREMENT OF BELT WEAR THROUGH EDGE DETECTION OF A RASTER IMAGE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for determining a wear condition for a belt adapted for use with machinery, the system comprising:
- an image-capture device configured to capture a first image of the belt, the first image comprising at least one of a greyscale and color image that includes image data for a top and bottom edge of the belt and at least one marked feature between the top and bottom edge of the belt;
an image conversion module configured to receive the first image of the belt and convert the first image into a second image, wherein the second image comprises a black-and-white image, wherein the image conversion module converts the first image into the second image by determining a contrast threshold value that is applied to pixels in the first image, wherein pixels in the first image having a pixel value that is less than or equal to the contrast threshold value are assigned a first binary pixel value in the second image and wherein pixels in the first image having a pixel value that is greater than the contrast threshold value are assigned a second binary pixel value in the second image, and wherein the contrast threshold value is determined by analyzing the first image with a plurality of different candidate threshold values, correlating each of the candidate threshold values to a determined rib count, identifying a most-frequently occurring rib count from the plurality of different candidate threshold values, and determining the contrast threshold value as an average threshold value from threshold values that have been correlated to the most-frequently occurring rib count;
an analysis module configured to analyze the second image and detect contours therein, wherein the analysis module is further configured to convert pixels into physical dimensions and based on such conversions determine a physical size of the at least one marked feature and a physical distance between the at least one marked feature and one or both of the top and bottom of the belt, and wherein the analysis module is further configured to determine a wear condition for the belt based on the determined physical distance between the at least one marked feature and one or both of the top and bottom of the belt; and
a reporting module configured to generate and transmit a report to a user that includes the determined wear condition for the belt.
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Abstract
Tools for determining belt wear are provided. Specifically, non-contact based systems and processes are described which enable a quick and accurate measurement of belt wear. Based on the measurements of belt wear, a wear condition for the belt can be determined. Information regarding the wear condition can then be used to determine an appropriate remedial measure for responding to the determined wear condition.
22 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for determining a wear condition for a belt adapted for use with machinery, the system comprising:
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an image-capture device configured to capture a first image of the belt, the first image comprising at least one of a greyscale and color image that includes image data for a top and bottom edge of the belt and at least one marked feature between the top and bottom edge of the belt; an image conversion module configured to receive the first image of the belt and convert the first image into a second image, wherein the second image comprises a black-and-white image, wherein the image conversion module converts the first image into the second image by determining a contrast threshold value that is applied to pixels in the first image, wherein pixels in the first image having a pixel value that is less than or equal to the contrast threshold value are assigned a first binary pixel value in the second image and wherein pixels in the first image having a pixel value that is greater than the contrast threshold value are assigned a second binary pixel value in the second image, and wherein the contrast threshold value is determined by analyzing the first image with a plurality of different candidate threshold values, correlating each of the candidate threshold values to a determined rib count, identifying a most-frequently occurring rib count from the plurality of different candidate threshold values, and determining the contrast threshold value as an average threshold value from threshold values that have been correlated to the most-frequently occurring rib count; an analysis module configured to analyze the second image and detect contours therein, wherein the analysis module is further configured to convert pixels into physical dimensions and based on such conversions determine a physical size of the at least one marked feature and a physical distance between the at least one marked feature and one or both of the top and bottom of the belt, and wherein the analysis module is further configured to determine a wear condition for the belt based on the determined physical distance between the at least one marked feature and one or both of the top and bottom of the belt; and a reporting module configured to generate and transmit a report to a user that includes the determined wear condition for the belt. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of measuring a wear condition of a belt, comprising:
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obtaining a raster image of the belt, the raster image including image data for at least one feature of the belt; analyzing the raster image of the belt; based on the analysis of the raster image of the belt, determining physical dimensions of the at least one feature of the belt; based on the determined physical dimensions of the at least one feature of the belt, determining a wear condition for the belt preparing a report that includes the results of the analysis of the raster image of the belt and the determined wear condition for the belt; and transmitting the report to a user device operated by at least one interested party. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that cause a computing system to execute a method, the instructions comprising:
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instructions configured to analyze a raster image of a belt, the raster image including image data for at least one feature of the belt; instructions configured to determine physical dimensions of the at least one feature of the belt; and instructions configured to, based on the determined physical dimensions of the at least one feature of the belt, determine a wear condition for the belt. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification