Image based defect detection system
First Claim
1. A workpiece inspection system for consecutively inspecting a plurality of workpieces, each workpiece including at least a first opening and said system being adapted to determine a presence of additional openings in said workpiece, said system comprising:
- a) a camera positioned to capture an image of a workpiece in an inspection zone;
b) a launching device from which the workpieces may be consecutively launched to pass unsupported through said inspection zone;
c) a sensor positioned to sense when a workpiece has entered said inspection zone;
d) a light positioned to direct light into a workpiece when the workpiece is located in said inspection zone; and
e) a controller communicating with said sensor and said camera and programmed to cause said camera to capture an image of the workpiece when said sensor senses the workpiece has entered said inspection zone;
said controller programmed to analyze said image of the workpiece captured by the camera to identify any defects in the workpiece, including the presence of additional openings in the workpiece.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an inspection system, workpieces to be inspected are consecutively and automatically launched to pass unsupported through the field of view of a plurality of cameras. As a workpiece passes through the field of view of the cameras, a sensor is activated which communicates with a computer system to activate the cameras to capture an unobstructed image, or image data, of the workpiece. The image data is then analyzed by a computer program to verify whether the image data indicates that the workpiece does not meet established criteria and therefore is considered defective. If the image does not meet the established criteria, the workpiece is rejected and segregated from workpieces which have not been identified as defective.
104 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A workpiece inspection system for consecutively inspecting a plurality of workpieces, each workpiece including at least a first opening and said system being adapted to determine a presence of additional openings in said workpiece, said system comprising:
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a) a camera positioned to capture an image of a workpiece in an inspection zone; b) a launching device from which the workpieces may be consecutively launched to pass unsupported through said inspection zone; c) a sensor positioned to sense when a workpiece has entered said inspection zone; d) a light positioned to direct light into a workpiece when the workpiece is located in said inspection zone; and e) a controller communicating with said sensor and said camera and programmed to cause said camera to capture an image of the workpiece when said sensor senses the workpiece has entered said inspection zone;
said controller programmed to analyze said image of the workpiece captured by the camera to identify any defects in the workpiece, including the presence of additional openings in the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A workpiece inspection system for consecutively inspecting a plurality of hollow workpieces, each workpiece including at least a first opening and said workpiece inspection system adapted to determine the presence of additional openings in said workpiece;
- said workpiece inspection system comprising;
a) a plurality of cameras each positioned to capture image data of a workpiece in an inspection zone; b) a launch tube from which the workpieces may be consecutively launched to pass unsupported through said inspection zone; c) a light positioned to direct light into a workpiece through the first opening when the workpiece is located in said inspection zone; and d) a controller causing each of said cameras to capture an image of the workpiece when the workpiece has entered said inspection zone;
said controller programmed to analyze the images of the workpiece captured by the cameras to determine the presence of any additional openings in the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
- said workpiece inspection system comprising;
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7. A process for inspecting a succession of workpieces wherein each workpiece is hollow and includes a first opening and the workpieces are inspected to detect an additional opening, the process comprising the steps of:
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a) positioning a camera to define a workpiece inspection zone and to capture an image of a workpiece within said workpiece inspection zone; b) successively launching workplaces unsupported through said inspection zone; c) capturing a respective image of each workpiece launched through said inspection zone; d) internally illuminating each workpiece through the first opening simultaneously with the step of capturing the image of the workpiece with the camera and in response to sensing the workpiece passing within the field of view of the camera; and e) processing each image by a computer to detect the presence of a selected characteristic in the respective workpiece from the image including an additional opening in said workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A process for inspecting a plurality of workpieces wherein the workpieces are hollow and include a first opening and the workpieces are inspected to detect additional openings;
- the process comprising the steps of;
a) consecutively launching the workpieces to pass unsupported past a field of view of a camera; b) sensing when each workpiece passes within the field of view of the camera, c) upon sensing each workpiece passing within the field of view of the camera, capturing image data of the workpiece with the camera, and including the step of; 1) internally illuminating each workpiece through the first opening simultaneously with the step of capturing the image of the workpiece with the camera and in response to sensing the workpiece passing within the field of view of the camera; d) analyzing the captured image data to determine if the captured image data indicates the presence of a selected characteristic of said workpiece; e) upon determining that the captured image of a workpiece does not indicate unacceptable defects in the workpiece, directing the workpiece to a first area; and f) upon determining that the captured image of a workpiece does indicate unacceptable defects in the workpiece, directing the workpiece to a second area. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
- the process comprising the steps of;
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15. A process for inspecting a plurality of workpieces wherein the workpieces are hollow and include a first opening and the workpieces are inspected to detect additional openings;
- the process comprising the steps of
a) consecutively launching the workpieces to pass unsupported past a field of view of each of a plurality of cameras, each camera positioned and focused to record a different view of each workpiece as it passes within the field of view of the camera; b) sensing when each workpiece passes within the field of view of the cameras; c) upon sensing each workpiece passing within the fields of view of the cameras, simultaneously illuminating the workpiece and causing each camera to capture an image of the workpiece, and including the step of; 1) internally illuminating each workpiece through the first opening simultaneously with the step of capturing the image of the workpiece with the camera and in response to sensing the workpiece passing within the field of view of the cameras; d) analyzing the captured images of each workpiece to determine if the images indicates unacceptable defects in the workpiece; e) upon determining that the captured images of a workpiece do not indicate unacceptable defects in the workpiece directing the workpiece to a first area; and f) upon determining that the captured images of a workpiece do indicate unacceptable defects in the workplace, directing the workpiece to a second area. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- the process comprising the steps of
Specification