Patent · US Expired

Defective object inspection and removal systems and methods for identifying and removing defective objects

US5960098A · kind A · utility

113Cited by
52References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 1997
Grant dateSep 28, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB07C5/3422
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Image processing system using cameras and image processing techniques to identify undesirable objects on roller conveyor lines. The cameras above the conveyor capture images of the passing objects. The roller background information is removed and images of the objects remain. To analyze each individual object accurately, the adjacent objects are isolated and small noisy residue fragments are removed. A spherical optical transform and a defect preservation transform preserve any defect levels on objects even below the roller background and compensate for the non-lambertian gradient reflectance on spherical objects at their curvatures and dimensions. Defect segments are then extracted from the resulting transformed images. The size, level, and pattern of the defect segments indicate the degree of defects in the object. The extracted features are fed into a recognition process and a decision making system for grade rejection decisions. The locations in coordinates of the defects generated by a defect allocation function are combined with defect rejection decisions and user parameters to signal appropriate mechanical actions such as to separate objects with defects from those that are …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.