US 4,914,289 A · Article inspection system for analyzing end and adjacent sides

Abstract

An article inspection system especially useful for containers having threaded ends includes a video camera, digitizer and data processor operable to analyze a video image collected through a lens system. The lens system has several alternatives, in each case including a wide aspect object lens, wider than the end of the article being inspected, with a refracting and/or reflecting light ray path operable to produce a two dimensional image including both the end of the article and the sides of the article adjacent the end. The optics produce a distorted image in which the sides of the article appear folded upwardly into the two dimensional image such that a two dimensional data array adequately represents the image of the end and the adjacent sides.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for inspecting successive articles, each having an end and sides adjacent the end, comprising the steps of:

placing the article at an inspection station having an optical system directed toward the end, the optical system producing a focused image wherein each point viewed on the article is focused to a corresponding point in the focused image, the optical system defining a line of view toward the end, and defining light rays directed obliquely toward the side, each focused to a point in said image;
collecting with the optical system a two dimensional image of the end of the end and the sides, said image being a focused but spatially distorted view of the end and the sides wherein the sides appear folded up adjacent the end;
and,
discriminating among the articles by recognizing features appearing in the two dimensional image.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Article inspection system for analyzing end and adjacent sides

Life of this patent

Article inspection system for analyzing end and adjacent sides

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24