Apparatus and method for making and inspecting pre-fastened articles
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsMatthew L. Koele, Bradley M. Marohl, Joseph J. Gimenez, Tim G. Dollevoet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for inspecting articles, such as training pants, by use of multiple zones of irradiation sources whose intensity can be varied from one zone to another to adjust for different thicknesses of materials and the like to provide a clearer image of the various edges and seams.
Claims37
A method of inspecting an article formed from multiple elements to determine if a first of the elements is properly located relative to a second of the elements in the article, the method comprising:
- irradiating the article with a radiation source having at least two different zones of different intensity radiation sources and wherein each zone is generally aligned with different portions of the article;
- and
- capturing an image of at least a portion of the irradiated article including the first and second elements thereof.
A method for making and inspecting a pre-fastened article having at least two generally flexible elements with defined edges, the elements being capable of connection with each other during initial assembly of the article to at least partially form said pre-fastened article, the article having at least one additional edge remote from the defined edges of the generally flexible elements, the method comprising:
- arranging a portion of one of the generally flexible elements in overlapping relationship with a portion of another one of said elements;
- connecting said element portions together to define an engagement seam of said article;
- irradiating said elements at the engagement seam from one side of the article with a first radiation source such that an image can be taken of the defined edges of the generally flexible elements;
- irradiating said article remote from the engagement seam from the one side of the article with at least one additional radiation source such that an image can be taken of the at least one additional edge remote from the defined edges;
- and
- capturing an image of the irradiated generally flexible elements and the defined edges thereof and the at least one additional edge from an opposite side of the article from said one side;
- and
- comparing the image to predetermined acceptable locations of the defined edges and the at least one additional edge to determine if the defined edges and the at least one additional edge are in the acceptable locations.
An apparatus for inspecting an article with multiple edges to determine if the edges exist and are properly located to the article, the apparatus comprising:
- a radiation source having at least two different zones of different intensity radiation and wherein each zone is aligned with different ones of the multiple edges of the article for irradiating the article from a first side of the article;
- and
- an image capturing device adapted to be disposed on a second side of the article opposite the first side for capturing an image of the irradiated article including the edges thereof.
Apparatus for making and inspecting a pre-fastened article having at least two generally flexible elements with defined edges, the elements being capable of connection with each other during initial assembly of the article to at least partially form said pre-fastened article, the article having at least one additional edge remote from the defined edges of the generally flexible elements, the apparatus comprising:
- means for arranging a portion of one of the generally flexible elements in overlapping relationship with a portion of another one of said elements;
- means for connecting said element portions together to define an engagement seam of said article;
- means for irradiating said elements at the engagement seam from one side of the article with a first radiation source such that an image can be taken of the defined edges of the generally flexible elements;
- and
- means for irradiating said article remote from the engagement seam from the one side of the article with at least one additional radiation source such that an image can be taken of the at least one additional edge remote from the defined edges;
- means for capturing an image of the irradiated generally flexible elements and the defined edges thereof and the at least one additional edge from an opposite side of the article from said one side;
- and means for capturing the image to predetermined acceptable locations of the defined edges and the at least one additional edge to determine if the defined edges and the at least one additional edge are in acceptable locations.
A method of inspecting an article formed from multiple elements to determine if at least some of the elements are properly located relative to each other in the article, the method comprising:
- irradiating the article with a radiation source having at least two different zones of different intensity radiation and wherein each zone is generally aligned with different parts of the article;
- and
- capturing an image of the irradiated article including the at least some of the elements thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.