Capsule object inspection system and associated method

• US 9,766,114 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Ademe, Balager
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): COTEY, PHILIP L
• Application Number:
  US14/835,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20170059391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 738658
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/16 Sorting according to weight sorting eggs A01K43/00; weighing apparatus per se G01G
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/342 according to optical properties, e.g. colour according to radiation transmittivity B07C5/3416
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/00 Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property determining weight by measuring volume G01F
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/00 Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 Capsules; Tablets

Abstract

An inspection system configured to inspect a plurality of capsule objects is provided. The system includes an imaging device for capturing an image of the capsule object'"'"'s exterior and a weighing device for measuring the capsule object'"'"'s weight. The system also includes an analysis unit configured to analyze the captured images and the measured weights of the capsule objects. The analysis unit is configured to execute an edge detection tool that determines the capsule object'"'"'s dimensions and whether the capsule object is defective based at least in part on the measured dimensions. The analysis unit is also configured to execute a weight analysis tool configured to determine whether the capsule object is defective based on the capsule object'"'"'s weight. An associated method and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein that are executable by a processor are also provided.

Claims

1. An inspection system configured to inspect a plurality of capsule objects, each of the capsule objects comprising an outer shell and an inner payload, the inspection system comprising:

at least one imaging device configured to capture at least one image of an exterior of each of the capsule objects as each of the capsule objects is freefalling;

a weighing device configured to receive each of the freefallen capsule objects and to measure a weight of each of the capsule objects; and

a capsule analyzer having a processor and being in communication with the at least one imaging device and the weighing device, the capsule analyzer being responsive to the at least one image of each of the capsule objects received from the at least one imaging device, and the corresponding weight of each of the capsule objects received from the weighing device, to determine whether each of the capsule objects is defective in comparison to a predetermined dimension and a predetermined weight of a non-defective capsule object.

2. The inspection system of claim 1 further comprising a capsule dispensing device comprising a peripheral surface, the peripheral surface defining a plurality of cavities configured to receive the capsule objects therein, and the capsule dispensing device configured to sequentially introduce the capsule objects to a detection zone, the detection zone being defined by a field of view of the at least one imaging device.

3. The inspection system of claim 2 further comprising a capsule object repository operably engaged with the capsule dispensing device, the capsule object repository configured to retain a plurality of capsule objects therein.

4. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the weighing device is configured to measure the weight of a series of the capsule objects after the at least one imaging device has captured the at least one image of the exterior of at least one of the capsule objects.

5. The inspection system of claim 4, wherein the weighing device is configured to recalibrate between measuring the weight of each of the capsule objects.

6. The inspection system of claim 1, comprising an edge detection tool configured to determine a width of each of the capsule objects along a horizontal axis from the at least one image of the exterior of the capsule objects.

7. The inspection system of claim 6, wherein the edge detection tool is further configured to determine a height of the capsule objects along a vertical axis from the at least one image of the exterior of the capsule objects.

8. The inspection system of claim 1, comprising a weight analysis tool configured to compare the weight of each of the capsule objects with a predetermined capsule object weight interval.

9. A method for inspecting a plurality of capsule objects comprising an outer shell and an inner payload, the method comprising:

capturing one or more images of an exterior of each of the capsule objects with at least one imaging device as each of the capsule objects is freefalling;

measuring a weight of each of the freefallen capsule objects received by a weighing device;

determining whether each of the capsule objects is defective in comparison to a predetermined dimension and a predetermined weight of a non-defective capsule object in response to the one or more images of each of the capsule objects received from the at least one imaging device and the corresponding weight of each of the capsule objects received from the weighing device by a capsule analyzer having a processor and being in communication with the at least one imaging device and the weighing device.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising determining a width of the capsule objects along a horizontal axis of the capsule objects and a height of the capsule objects along a vertical axis of the capsule objects.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising dispensing the capsule objects to a detection zone defined by a field of view of the at least one imaging device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing the capsule objects to a plurality of cavities defined by a peripheral surface of a dispensing device, the dispensing device configured to sequentially dispense one of the capsule objects to the detection zone.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising dispensing the capsule objects to the weighing device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein dispensing the capsule objects to the detection zone and dispensing the capsule objects to the weighing device comprise dropping the capsule objects from a dispensing device sequentially.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising recalibrating the weighing device between weighing each of the capsule objects.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the capsule object is defective comprises:

comparing the weight of the capsule objects with a predetermined capsule object weight interval; and

comparing the dimension of capsule objects with a predetermined capsule object dimension interval.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising discarding the capsule objects that are determined to be defective.

18. A computer-readable storage medium that is non-transitory and has computer-readable program code portions stored therein that, in response to execution by a processor, cause a system to at least:

capture at least one image of an exterior of each of a plurality of capsule objects with at least one imaging device as each of the capsule objects is freefalling;

measure a weight of each of the freefallen capsule objects received by a weighing device; and

determine whether each of the capsule objects is defective in comparison to a predetermined dimension and a predetermined weight of a non-defective capsule object in response to the at least one image of each of the capsule objects received from the at least one imaging device, and the corresponding weight of each of the capsule objects received from the weighing device by a capsule analyzer having a processor and being in communication with the at least one imaging device and the weighing device.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising computer-readable program code portions that cause the system to determine a width of each of the capsule objects along a horizontal axis of the capsule objects and a height of each of the capsule objects along a vertical axis of the capsule objects.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 further comprising computer-readable program code portions that cause the system to recalibrate a weighing device between measuring a weight of each of the capsule objects.