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US 11,051,992 B2Granted
Systems and methods for inspecting absorbent articles on a converting line
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsPaul Anthony Kawka, Stephen Michael Varga, Aitzaz Ahmad, Paul Philip Thomas
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Abstract
A method for inspecting absorbent articles is provided. The inspection is performed using an inspection algorithm generated with a convolutional neural network having convolutional neural network parameters. The convolutional neural network parameters are generated by a training algorithm. Based on the inspection, characteristics of the absorbent articles, such as defects, can be identified. Absorbent articles having identified characteristics can be rejected, or other actions can be taken.
Claims20
A method for inspecting absorbent articles, the method comprising steps of:
- preprocessing each image of a group of images of absorbent articles to label a component of the absorbent article;
- generating a first inspection algorithm with a convolutional neural network based on the preprocessed images, wherein the first inspection algorithm is usable to mask the labeled component in images of absorbent articles;
- providing a second inspection algorithm, wherein the second inspection algorithm is usable to determine one or more properties of the labeled component in images of absorbent articles, wherein the one or more properties comprise any of a location, a size, a shape, and a presence of the component;
- providing a sensor;
- providing a controller, the controller comprising the first inspection algorithm;
- advancing a substrate through a converting process;
- creating images of the substrate with the sensor;
- communicating the images from the sensor to the controller;
- masking the labeled component in the images by analyzing the images with the first inspection algorithm;
- determining at least one of the properties for the labeled component with the second inspection algorithm;
- cutting the substrate into discrete absorbent articles;
- and
- based on the determination of the least one of the properties for the labeled component, executing a control action, wherein the control action is any of rejecting one or more of the discrete absorbent articles, an automatic phase adjustment, an automatic tracking adjustment, a machine maintenance scheduling, and a machine stop command.
10 more elements
A method for inspecting absorbent articles, the method comprising steps of:
- preprocessing each image of a group of images of absorbent articles to label a component of the absorbent article;
- generating a first inspection algorithm with a convolutional neural network based on the preprocessed images, wherein the first inspection algorithm is usable to mask the labeled component in images of absorbent articles;
- providing a second inspection algorithm, wherein the second inspection algorithm is usable to determine one or more properties of the labeled component in images of absorbent articles, wherein the one or more properties comprise any of a location, a size, a shape, and a presence of the component;
- advancing a substrate through a converting process;
- creating images of the substrate;
- masking the labeled component in the images by analyzing the images with the first inspection algorithm;
- and
- determining at least one of the properties for the labeled component with the second inspection algorithm.
5 more elements
A method for inspecting absorbent articles, the method comprising steps of:
- storing a group of digitized signals of absorbent articles, wherein the digitized signals are preprocessed to label a component of the absorbent article;
- providing the preprocessed digitized signals to a training algorithm to create a convolutional neural network;
- generating a first inspection algorithm with the convolutional neural network based on the group of preprocessed digitized signals, wherein the first inspection algorithm masks one or more properties of the labeled component;
- providing a second inspection algorithm, wherein the second inspection algorithm is usable to determine one or more properties of the labeled component in digitized signals of absorbent articles, wherein the one or more properties comprise any of a location, a size, a shape, and a presence of the component;
- advancing a substrate through a converting process;
- creating inspection data of the substrate with a sensor;
- communicating the inspection data from the sensor to a controller, wherein the controller comprises the first inspection algorithm;
- identifying the labeled component by analyzing the inspection data with the first inspection algorithm;
- determining at least one of the properties for the labeled component with the second inspection algorithm;
- and
- cutting the substrate into discrete absorbent articles.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.