Method and apparatus for detecting defects and embedded objects in sealed sterilized packaging
AssigneeTeam Technologies Incorporation
InventorYouri N. Djachiachvili
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inspection station identifies defects such as artifacts (e.g., dust, hair, particles) in the sealing areas of sealed sterile packages. A multi-head optical scanner can include at least two fiber optic sensors each comprised of a bundle of optical fibers arranged into a linear face coupled to an image processing module and oriented towards a scanning area of sealed packages moving through a conveyance system. An image processing module can analyze input from the at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements to identify artifacts in the sealing areas of the sealed packages.
Claims17
An inspection station for optically inspecting sealed packages to identify artifacts in sealing areas of the sealed packages, comprising:
- a multi-head optical scanner including at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements each deployed in an x and y rows and each comprising more than one optical fiber from a bundle of optical fibers, wherein each of the at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements are oriented towards an inspection area to capture the surface of sealed packages moving through a conveyance system;
- an image processing module analyzing input from the at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements to identify and locate artifacts in the sealing areas of the sealed packages.
An inspection station, comprising:
- an image processing module;
- a multi-head optical scanner including at least two fiber optic sensors each comprised of bundle of optical fibers arranged in an x and y rows and forming a linear face, said multi-head scanner coupled to an image processing module and oriented towards a scanning area over a surface of sealed packages moving through a conveyance system;
- an image processing module analyzing input from the at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements to identify artifacts and their location in the sealing areas of the sealed packages.
A method of inspecting sealed sterile packaging for artifacts, comprising:
- optically capturing images of sealing areas on sealed sterile packages using a multi-head optical scanner including at least two fiber optic sensors each comprised of a bundle of optical fibers each deployed in an x and y rows and coupled to an image processing module and oriented towards a scanning area of sealed packages moving through a conveyance system;
- processing images of sealing areas captured by the multi-head optical scanner to determine if the sealing areas contain artifacts therein;
- and
- identifying sealing areas including sealing area locations wherein artifacts are located within sealed sterile packages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.