Portable composable machine vision system for identifying projectiles

• US 8,983,173 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cybernet Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cybernet Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Jacobus, Charles J., Burkowski, James, Moody, Gary, Beach, Glenn J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liew, Alex
• Application Number:
  US14/163,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 382/107, 382141-152, 348/85, 209509-707
• US Class Current: 382/141
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/34 Sorting according to other particular properties material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3412 according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3422 using video scanning devices, e.g. TV-cameras
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 35/00 Testing or checking of ammunition apparatus for measuring the energy of projectiles G01L5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 35/02 Gauging, sorting, trimming or shortening cartridges or missiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8851 Scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment, for detecting different kinds of defects, for compensating for structures, markings, edges G01N21/8806 and G01N21/93 - G01N21/95692 take precedence; optical measurement of dimensions G01B11/00; optical scanning G02B26/10; image transformation G06T3/00; computerised image enhancement G06T5/00; image processing per se for flaw detection G06T7/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30108 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30164 Workpiece; Machine component
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/001 using an image reference approach

Abstract

A machine vision system for automatically identifying and inspecting objects is disclosed, including composable vision-based recognition modules and a decision algorithm to perform the final determination on object type and quality. This vision system has been used to develop a Projectile Identification System and an Automated Tactical Ammunition Classification System. The technology can be used to create numerous other inspection and automated identification systems.

Claims

1. A system for inspecting and sorting munitions, ordnance or other manufactured parts, comprising:

a feeder for consecutively conveying parts along a path which extends through an inspection module;

the inspection module including an input guide for delivering a part into the inspection module, and an output guide for receiving a part from the inspection module;

a physical gap between the input guide and the output guide in the inspection module, such that when a part traverses the gap, the side surfaces of the part are at least temporarily visually unobstructed;

an illumination assembly operative to illuminate the unobstructed side surfaces of the part as it traverses the gap between the input guide and the output guide;

a plurality of imaging detectors, each imaging detector having a field of view which includes the illuminated, unobstructed side surfaces of a part, thereby enabling the imaging detectors to gather multiple side images of a part as it traverses the gap; and

a processor for processing the side images to identify part characteristics or part defects.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the input and output guides are channels with V-shaped cross sections.

3. The system of claim 1, further including a sorter for sorting the parts in accordance with the part characteristics or part defects.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sorter includes a blow-off unit to divert parts found to be unacceptable.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging detectors are line-scan cameras.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the imaging detectors are line-scan cameras, each with a field of view; and

the processor is operative to generate an image of each part based upon the speed of each part as it passes through each line-scan camera'"'"'s field of view.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the feeder includes a bore through which an operator loads parts for inspection.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the feeder is configured to receive belt ammunition.

9. The system of claim 1, further including a mechanism for forming a single line or column of parts for presentation to the inspection module.

10. The system of claim 1, further including a narrowing channel and restriction plates to form a single line or column of parts for presentation to the inspection module.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is operative to determine the color or hue of a part.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to recognize alphanumerical characters, bar codes, or radio-frequency ID tags on a part during inspection.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to recognize imperfections associated with dents or corrosion.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to recognize corrosion due to copper sulfate leakage.