# US 2021/0279859 A1 · Object inspection apparatus and object inspection method using same

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- Number: US 2021/0279859 A1
- Document ID: US20210279859A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/256,497
- Filed: 2019-04-16
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-29
- Assignees: Koh Young Technology Inc.
- Applicants: Koh Young Technology Inc.
- Inventors: Choung Min JUNG; Ho Jun LEE; Nam Kyu PARK; Han Rim KIM
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210279859A1

## CPC

- B25B 11/02: Assembly jigs
- G06T 7/0004: {Industrial image inspection}
- B25B 5/061: {with fluid drive (B25B5/087, B25B5/122 take precedence)}
- B65G 47/252: about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction
- G01M 11/00: Testing of optical apparatus; Testing structures by optical methods not otherwise provided for
- G01M 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- G01N 21/01: Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
- G01N 21/88: Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
- G01N 21/8806: {Specially adapted optical and illumination features}
- G01N 21/95: characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined (G01N21/89 - G01N21/91, G01N21/94 take precedence)
- G06T 7/40: Analysis of texture (depth or shape recovery from texture G06T7/529)
- H04N 23/695: Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
- G01N 2021/0106: {General arrangement of respective parts}
- G01N 2021/0187: {Mechanical sequence of operations}
- G01N 2021/845: {Objects on a conveyor}
- G06T 2207/30108: Industrial image inspection
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An object inspection apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein includes: a first flipper apparatus configured to rotate a first object; a second flipper apparatus configured to rotate a second object; and a single camera device configured to move from a position corresponding to one of the first flipper apparatus and the second flipper apparatus to a position corresponding to the other, the camera device being configured to inspect object surfaces of the first object and the second object. Each of the first flipper apparatus and the second flipper apparatus includes at least one flipper unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An object inspection apparatus, on XYZ orthogonal coordinates, comprising:
a first flipper apparatus configured to hold and rotate a first object;
a second flipper apparatus configured to hold and rotate a second object; and
a single camera device configured to move from a position corresponding to one of the first flipper apparatus and the second flipper apparatus to a position corresponding to the other, the camera device being configured to inspect object surfaces of the first object and the second object facing a +Z-axis direction,
wherein each of the first flipper apparatus and the second flipper apparatus includes at least one flipper unit configured to hold an object in a predetermined axis direction and to rotate the object about a predetermined axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The object inspection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one flipper unit comprises a Y-axis flipper unit configured to hold the object in a Y-axis direction and to rotate the object about a Y-axis

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The object inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the first flipper apparatus and the second flipper apparatus further comprises a transfer unit configured to transfer the object in an X-axis direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The object inspection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first flipper apparatus and the second flipper apparatus are arranged in the Y-axis direction, and
the camera device is configured to move in the Y-axis direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The object inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one flipper unit comprises an X-axis flipper unit configured to hold the object in an X-axis direction and to rotate the object about an X-axis

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The object inspection apparatus of claim 5, wherein the Y-axis flipper unit comprises:
a pair of body frames configured to operate to narrow or widen a space therebetween in the Y-axis direction;
a Y-axis flipper base supporting the pair of body frames; and
a pair of Y-axis holders supported on the pair of body frames corresponding thereto, the pair of Y-axis holders being configured to rotate about the Y-axis and hold the object therebetween, and
wherein the X-axis flipper unit comprises:
a pair of side frames configured to operate to narrow or widen a space therebetween in the X-axis direction;
an X-axis flipper base supporting the pair of side frames; and
a pair of X-axis holders supported on the pair of side frames corresponding thereto, the pair of X-axis holders being configured to rotate about the X-axis with respect to the pair of side frames and hold the object therebetween.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The object inspection apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first flipper apparatus and the second flipper apparatus includes a Z-axis elevation unit on which the at least one flipper unit is supported, the Z-axis elevation unit being configured to move the at least one flipper unit up and down in a Z-axis direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The object inspection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a camera device frame configured to movably support the camera device.

### Claim 9

An object inspection method using, on XYZ orthogonal coordinates, a first flipper apparatus configured to hold and rotate a first object, a second flipper apparatus configured to hold and rotate a second object, and a camera device configured to inspect object surfaces of the first object and the second object facing a +Z-axis direction, the object inspection method comprising:
a first object inspection step in which the first flipper apparatus rotates the first object and the camera device inspects an object surface of the first object; and
a second object inspection step in which the second flipper apparatus rotates the second object and the camera device inspects an object surface of the second object while the first object inspection step is performed,
wherein, while the first object inspection step and the second object inspection step are performed, the camera device moves at least once from a position corresponding to one of the first flipper apparatus and the second flipper apparatus to a position corresponding to the other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The object inspection method of claim 9, wherein, while the first object inspection step and the second object inspection step are performed, the camera device alternately inspects the object surface of the first object and the object surface of the second object.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The object inspection method of claim 9, wherein each of the first object inspection step and the second object inspection step comprises:
an initial inspection step in which a corresponding Y-axis holder holds a corresponding object in a Y-axis direction and the camera device inspects an object surface A of the corresponding object; and
a Y-axis rotation inspection step in which the corresponding Y-axis holder rotates the corresponding object about a Y-axis and the camera device inspects an object surface B1, which is perpendicular to the corresponding object surface A, and an object surface B2, which is opposite to the corresponding object surface B1,
wherein, while the initial inspection step of the first object and the Y-axis rotation inspection step of the first object are performed, the initial inspection step of the second object is performed.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The object inspection method of claim 11, wherein, while the Y-axis rotation inspection step of the first object is performed, the camera device moves at least once between a position corresponding to the first flipper apparatus and a position corresponding to the second flipper apparatus.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The object inspection method of claim 9, wherein each of the first object inspection step and the second object inspection step comprises:
an initial inspection step in which a corresponding Y-axis holder holds a corresponding object in a Y-axis direction and the camera device inspects an object surface A of the corresponding object;
a Y-axis rotation inspection step in which the corresponding Y-axis holder rotates the corresponding object about a Y-axis and the camera device inspects an object surface B1, which is perpendicular to the corresponding object surface A, and an object surface B2, which is opposite to the corresponding object surface B1; and
an X-axis rotation inspection step in which a corresponding X-axis holder holds the corresponding object in an X-axis direction and rotates the corresponding object about an X-axis and the camera device inspects an object surface B3, which is perpendicular to the corresponding object surface A, and an object surface B4, which is opposite to the corresponding object surface B3,
wherein, while the Y-axis rotation inspection step of the second object and the X-axis rotation inspection step of the second object are performed, the camera device moves at least once between a position corresponding to the first flipper apparatus and a position corresponding to the second flipper apparatus.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The object inspection method of claim 13, wherein, while the X-axis rotation inspection step of the first object is performed, the camera device moves at least once between the position corresponding to the first flipper apparatus and the position corresponding to the second flipper apparatus.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The object inspection method of claim 13, wherein each of the first object inspection step and the second object inspection step comprises:
a rear surface inspection step in which the corresponding Y-axis holder holds the corresponding object in the Y-axis direction and the camera device inspects an object surface C, which is opposite to the corresponding object surface A, after the X-axis rotation inspection step, and
wherein, while the X-axis rotation inspection step of the second object and the rear surface inspection step of the second object are performed, the rear surface inspection step of the first object is performed.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The object inspection method of claim 9, wherein each of the first object inspection step and the second object inspection step comprises:
an initial inspection step in which a corresponding Y-axis holder holds a corresponding object in a Y-axis direction and the camera device inspects an object surface A of the corresponding object;
a Y-axis rotation inspection step in which the corresponding Y-axis holder rotates the corresponding object about a Y-axis and the camera device inspects an object surface B1, which is perpendicular to the corresponding object surface A, and an object surface B2, which is opposite to the corresponding object surface B1;
a rear surface inspection step in which the corresponding Y-axis holder holds the corresponding object in the Y-axis direction and the camera device inspects an object surface C, which is opposite to the corresponding object surface A of the object; and
a last transfer step in which the corresponding object is transferred in an X-axis direction, after the rear surface inspection step,
wherein, while the rear surface inspection step of the first object and the last transfer step of the first object are performed, the camera device moves at least once between a position corresponding to the first flipper apparatus and a position corresponding to the second flipper apparatus.