Image analysis – Applications – Manufacturing or product inspection
Patent
1997-06-18
2000-06-13
Mehta, Bhavesh
Image analysis
Applications
Manufacturing or product inspection
131280, 131908, 209536, 209939, 250223R, 348125, 3562371, G06K 900, A24C 532, B07C 500
Patent
active
060758821
ABSTRACT:
An inspection station irradiates a moving cigarette with a one or more strobed arrays of infrared LEDs. The infrared radiation which passes through the cigarette is received by a video camera, which forms a digital image of the cigarette. A computer then detects the edges of the digital image of the cigarette and determines therefrom the length of the filter, hollow acetate tube, void chamber, tobacco plug, as well as the overall length of the cigarette. The computer then compares these measurements with expected standard values of these sections, and outputs the comparison results to the user using various display formats. According to exemplary aspects, the present invention delivers the cigarettes one at a time to the video camera using a parts handling system. The parts handling system comprises a infeed bin for storing a batch of cigarettes, and for dispensing a cigarette to a carriage positioned beneath the infeed bin. The carriage then transports the cigarette placed thereon between the strobing infrared LED arrays and the video camera, which together provide an image of the cigarette. The carriage then transports the cigarette to an output bin, where a diverter blade knocks the cigarette off the carriage and into the output bin.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3089497 (1963-05-01), Molins et al.
patent: 3588513 (1971-06-01), Akamatsu et al.
patent: 3818223 (1974-06-01), Gibson et al.
patent: 3955584 (1976-05-01), Molins et al.
patent: 4001579 (1977-01-01), Lebet et al.
patent: 4011950 (1977-03-01), McLoughlin et al.
patent: 4054377 (1977-10-01), Gibson
patent: 4090794 (1978-05-01), Benini
patent: 4099884 (1978-07-01), Nash
patent: 4212541 (1980-07-01), Ducommun et al.
patent: 4238994 (1980-12-01), Koch
patent: 4266674 (1981-05-01), Bell et al.
patent: 4377743 (1983-03-01), Bolt et al.
patent: 4398546 (1983-08-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 4423742 (1984-01-01), Reuland
patent: 4645921 (1987-02-01), Heitmann et al.
patent: 4671663 (1987-06-01), Sick
patent: 4682038 (1987-07-01), Focke
patent: 4718026 (1988-01-01), Long et al.
patent: 4756317 (1988-07-01), Edwards
patent: 4766315 (1988-08-01), Hellstrom et al.
patent: 4767924 (1988-08-01), Giebel et al.
patent: 4805641 (1989-02-01), Radzio et al.
patent: 4841763 (1989-06-01), Kang et al.
patent: 4860772 (1989-08-01), Hensgen et al.
patent: 4865054 (1989-09-01), Lorenzen et al.
patent: 4875494 (1989-10-01), Siems
patent: 4879000 (1989-11-01), Gausa
patent: 4906099 (1990-03-01), Casasent
patent: 4907607 (1990-03-01), Focke et al.
patent: 4915827 (1990-04-01), Rosenthal
patent: 4926886 (1990-05-01), Lorenzen et al.
patent: 4941482 (1990-07-01), Heitmann et al.
patent: 4963743 (1990-10-01), Satake et al.
patent: 4976544 (1990-12-01), Neri
patent: 4986285 (1991-01-01), Radzio et al.
patent: 5000323 (1991-03-01), Cahill et al.
patent: 5006722 (1991-04-01), Adelson
patent: 5010904 (1991-04-01), Lassiter
patent: 5013905 (1991-05-01), Neri
patent: 5024333 (1991-06-01), Brink et al.
patent: 5061063 (1991-10-01), Casasent
patent: 5086279 (1992-02-01), Wochnowski et al.
patent: 5118195 (1992-06-01), Dobbie
patent: 5166748 (1992-11-01), Dahlquist
patent: 5189708 (1993-02-01), Cox et al.
patent: 5208870 (1993-05-01), Ennis
patent: 5214969 (1993-06-01), Adkins et al.
patent: 5223915 (1993-06-01), Neri
patent: 5228462 (1993-07-01), Osmalov et al.
patent: 5235649 (1993-08-01), Reda
patent: 5237621 (1993-08-01), Cox et al.
patent: 5243408 (1993-09-01), Whitman, III
patent: 5305392 (1994-04-01), Longest, Jr. et al.
patent: 5341824 (1994-08-01), Fletcher et al.
patent: 5345955 (1994-09-01), Clearman et al.
patent: 5353357 (1994-10-01), Longest, Jr. et al.
patent: 5365596 (1994-11-01), Dante et al.
patent: 5366096 (1994-11-01), Miller
patent: 5404023 (1995-04-01), Nen et al.
patent: 5406376 (1995-04-01), Maiwaid et al.
patent: 5410396 (1995-04-01), Rochester
patent: 5414270 (1995-05-01), Henderson et al.
patent: 5426509 (1995-06-01), Peplinski
patent: 5432600 (1995-07-01), Grollimund et al.
patent: 5448365 (1995-09-01), Grollimund et al.
patent: 5505215 (1996-04-01), Bencivenni et al.
patent: 5534114 (1996-07-01), Cutright et al.
patent: 5659624 (1997-08-01), Fazzari et al.
patent: 5692621 (1997-12-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5695070 (1997-12-01), Draghetti
patent: 5715843 (1998-02-01), Hapke et al.
patent: 5791497 (1998-08-01), Campbell et al.
patent: 5808305 (1998-09-01), Leidecker et al.
"More Feedback: Process Control Leaps Ahead With New ABB Solutions [For Tobacco Manufacturing]", Tobacco Reporter (Nov. 1994) vol. 121, No. 11, p. 26, Doolittle, David E.
Mullins Michael J.
Pudas Michael R.
Smith Barry S.
Mehta Bhavesh
Philip Morris Incorporated
LandOfFree
System and method for optically inspecting cigarettes by detecti does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for optically inspecting cigarettes by detecti, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for optically inspecting cigarettes by detecti will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2076028