Method and apparatus for the automated inspection of yarn packages
AssigneeLinetech Industries, Inc.
InventorsTobias Jackson, James Knapp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A filament inspection method for detecting abnormalities in a wound yarn package includes illuminating the yarn package while sensing and recording an image of the illuminated yarn package. The method further includes evaluating the recorded image in accordance with predetermined criteria to determine thereby whether the recorded image indicates the presence of any abnormalities in the yarn package.
Claims23
A filament inspection method for detecting abnormalities in a wound yarn package, said filament inspection method comprising the steps of:
- illuminating said yarn package;
- sensing and recording an image of said illuminated yarn package;
- determining if a straight line segment exists in said recorded image;
- and
- evaluating said recorded image in accordance with predetermined criteria to determine thereby whether said recorded image indicates the presence of said abnormalities in said yarn package.
A filament inspection apparatus for identifying abnormalities in wound yarn packages, said inspection apparatus comprising:
- an illumination device for directing light onto said yarn package;
- a recording device for sensing and recording an image of said illuminated yarn package;
- a controller for delineating a region of interest within said image, said region of interest having an area smaller than an area of said image and being intersected by a radial line of said yarn package;
- and
- a determination device for determining if any straight image lines existing in said image are substantially perpendicular to said radial line.
A filament inspection apparatus for identifying abnormalities in wound yarn packages, said inspection apparatus comprising:
- an illumination device for illuminating said yarn package with a bounded light pattern having sharply defined edges;
- a recording device for sensing and recording an image of said illuminated yarn package, wherein said recorded image includes a tangential view of an exterior portion of said yarn package;
- and
- a controller for converting said recorded image to a binary image and establishing an artificial horizon of said exterior portion, wherein said controller marks any strands of yarn extending beyond said artificial horizon as one of a broken filament abnormality, an overhanging filament abnormality and a filament loop abnormality.
A filament inspection method for detecting abnormalities in a wound yarn package, said filament inspection method comprising the steps of:
- illuminating a portion of said yarn package;
- sensing and recording an image of said illuminated portion of said yarn package, wherein said illuminated portion comprises a geometric shape having a non-uniform width;
- and
- evaluating said recorded image in accordance with predetermined criteria to determine thereby whether said recorded image indicates the presence of said abnormalities in said yarn package.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.