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US 5,235,649 AGranted
Cigarette inspection method
AssigneeVidek, Inc.
InventorJames R. Reda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method for determining when a cigarette in a bundle is unsuitable which uses a statistical value based on gray scales.
Claims4
A method for determining when a cigarette in a bundle is improperly filled (broken or is a short stick)k, comprising the steps of:
- (a) illuminating the ends of a bundle of cigarettes by light from a source;
- (b) receiving light by a CCD camera or the like reflected by the end portions of each cigarette;
- (c) defining a predetermined position for locating each cigarette, each such position having a predetermined number of CCD pixels;
- (d) recording the intensity of light corresponding to each such pixel;
- (e) constructing a histogram based upon the intensity of reflected light for the pixels corresponding to each cigarette of the bundle, wherein the histogram is a frequency of occurrence of gray scales;
- (f) calculating arithmetic mean and standard deviation statistical values based on the gray scales;
- and
- (g) comparing the calculated, arithmetic mean statistic value with first predetermined reference value to determine if the cigarette is an incorrect length and the standard deviation with a second reference value to determine if a cigarette is too loosely filled.
5 more elements
A method for determining when a cigarette in a bundle is unsuitable, comprising the steps of:
- (a) illuminating the ends of a bundle of cigarettes;
- (b) receiving light by a CCD camera or the like reflected by the end portions of each cigarette;
- (c) defining a predetermined position for locating each cigarette, each such position having a predetermined number of CCD pixels;
- (d) recording the intensity of light corresponding to each such pixel;
- (e) constructing a histogram based upon the intensity of reflected light for the pixels corresponding to each cigarette of the bundle, wherein the histogram is a frequency of occurrence of gray scales;
- (f) calculating a standard deviation statistic value based on the gray scales;
- and
- (g) comparing the calculated standard deviation statistical value with a predetermined reference value to determine if a cigarette is too loosely filled.
5 more elements
A method for determining when a cigarette in a bundle is unsuitable, comprising the steps of:
- (a) illuminating the ends of a bundle of cigarettes;
- (b) receiving light by a CCD camera or the like reflected by the end portions of each cigarette;
- (c) defining a predetermined position for locating each cigarette, each such position having a predetermined number of CCD pixels;
- (d) recording the intensity of light corresponding to each such pixel;
- (e) constructing a histogram based upon the intensity of reflected light for the pixels corresponding to each cigarette of the bundle, wherein the histogram is a frequency of occurrence of gray scales;
- (f) calculating an arithmetic means statistic value based on the gray scales;
- and
- (g) comparing the calculated arithmetic mean statistical value with a predetermined reference value to determine if a cigarette is broken or a short stack.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.