Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
348088000 | Web, sheet or filament | 34 |
20090207244 | Method and apparatus for detecting and inspecting through-penetrating defects in foils and films - The present invention is a method and apparatus for optical detection and size evaluation of through-penetrating defects such as pinholes in moving foil or film. The invention comprises the installation of at least one image capture device at a first given distance over the moving foil surface, placement of at least one elongated light source comprising an infinite number of point-sources that are not in phase, and are emitting light independently from one another under the foil, periodic automatic computer-controlled image capture of the foil surface with image capture devices, automatic transmission of the image captured by each device to a control computer, and processing of the transmitted image data to detect of defect light spot, followed by determination of generalized index of its initial image. This generalize index value is equal to the brightness averaged within the spot multiplied by the area of the spot. The invention further includes reporting the presence of a through-penetrating defect when the generalized index value exceeds a preset threshold. characteristics of the defect spots. | 08-20-2009 |
20090295915 | SHEET BEHAVIOR MONITOR FOR SHEET PROCESSOR - A sheet behavior monitor for a sheet processor includes: a folding machine processing a sheet; and a camera taking an image once for each signature (Wb) folded by the folding machine. The camera takes every image at a folding machine rotation phase different from that of the image immediately before taken. | 12-03-2009 |
20100110173 | SHEET-LIKE PRODUCT INSPECTING METHOD AND DEVICE - Object: To provide an inspecting method and device which can distinguish black dirt, non-black dirt and a tear, without determining a pattern as a defect, in a defect inspection of dirt, a tear, a deformed shape, etc. in sheet-like products having differences in color reproducibility (such as variations, color unevenness and/or color fading). | 05-06-2010 |
20100149327 | Device and Method for Detecting Defect on End Face of Glass Sheet - A device for detecting a defect on the end face of a glass sheet is provided with: an image pick-up device having at least two CCD cameras for image-picking up the end face of the glass sheet from outside the glass sheet and in two directions diagonal to both front and back surfaces thereof; an illuminating device having a nearly C-shaped ring illumination capable of applying illuminating light in its center axis direction and having an opening slit; and an image processing device for processing the image signals acquired from the CCD cameras to determine the quality of the end face. The glass sheet is loosely inserted in the opening slit so that the end face agrees with the center axis of the ring illumination; the illuminating light is applied to the end face; and the end face is image-picked up by the image pick-up device. The image signals thus acquired are processed by the image processing device, thereby detecting the presence/absence of the defect on the end face. | 06-17-2010 |
20100231704 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A WEB INSPECTION SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a web inspection system. In one embodiment, the present invention is a web inspection system including a web moving unit moving a web of material, a camera positioned adjacent the web moving unit, the camera configured to be in an image capture state or a non-image-capture state, a first illumination system positioned adjacent the web moving unit, the first illumination system constantly illuminating the web of material, a second illumination system positioned adjacent the web moving unit, the second illumination system illuminating the web of material only when the camera is in the image capture state, and a control unit connected to the camera, the first illumination system, and the second illumination system. | 09-16-2010 |
20110050879 | OPTICAL INSPECTION SYSTEM EMPLOYING SHORT WAVE INFRARED SENSING - A system for inspecting cigarette paper containing banded regions and non-banded regions. The system includes a short wave infrared camera, the short wave infrared camera forming electrical signals representing properties of the cigarette paper and a processor for analyzing the electrical signals to provide analysis results, the processor including logic for successively examining pixels to determine whether each successive pixel corresponds to a non-banded region or a banded region; logic for computing spacing between adjacent banded regions on the cigarette paper based on results provided by the logic for successively examining; and logic for computing width of banded regions on the cigarette paper based on results provided by the logic for successively examining. An online method for inspecting paper containing banded regions and non-banded regions is also provided. | 03-03-2011 |
20110242310 | Apparatus and Method for Electrospinning Nanofibers - Nanofiber electroprocessing apparatus comprising a conductive stylus having a 5 to 250 nm diameter tip; a collector spaced below the tip; a continuous supply of flowable polymer to the tip, and a power supply for creating a potential difference between the tip and the collector sufficient to produce a nanofiber. The conductive stylus may comprise an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip and may further be mounted within an AFM scanning holder having a mechanism for moving the tip. A method of electroprocessing a nanofiber comprises providing the conductive stylus, such as an AFM tip, providing a collector below the tip, supplying the tip with the flowable polymer, energizing the tip to create a potential difference between the tip and the collector, and thereby producing the nanofiber. Systems and methods for using nanofibers so created may be used for anticounterfeiting or object identification. | 10-06-2011 |
20110273557 | POSITION MEASURING SYSTEM - In a position measuring system for measuring a position of a preset target portion of a conveyed sheet-like material with a camera, the system comprises a first camera unit installed substantially above one edge of the sheet-like material, including an image pickup device to receive a focused image of the sheet-like material, and taking an image of the target portion of the sheet-like material, a second camera unit installed substantially above the other edge of the sheet-like material, including an image pickup device to receive a focused image of the sheet-like material, and taking an image of the target portion of the sheet-like material, and a measuring unit for, based on variations of positions of the target portion from preset reference positions in the images of the sheet-like material focused on the respective image pickup devices, determining occurrence of a pass line fluctuation that displaces the sheet-like material in a vertical direction, and measuring a position deviation of the target portion. | 11-10-2011 |
20120120227 | PANEL CONDUCTIVE FILM CONFIGURATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A panel conductive film configuration system and method thereof are presented. A panel is configured with a plurality of groups of lines staggered in different groups, and ends of the lines are arranged in a staggered manner at two different lengths and include a film contact unit. A processing unit analyzes line widths of the groups of lines through images of the panel photographed by a photographing unit, and when configuring a film on the panel, a setting unit controls a configuration position of the film to adjust attachment areas between a plurality of line contact blocks of the film and each film contact unit. | 05-17-2012 |
20120120228 | INSPECTION METHOD, METHOD FOR PRODUCING COMPOSITE MATERIAL COMPONENTS, INSPECTION DEVICE, AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COMPOSITE MATERIAL COMPONENTS - An inspection method includes photographing an image by a camera mounted on a lamination head during a first fiber-reinforced plastic tape is attached by the lamination head while the lamination head moves, and calculating a gap amount between the first fiber-reinforced plastic tape and a second fiber-reinforced plastic tape on the basis of a first component of translational displacement in an optical axis direction of the camera which is a translational displacement of the lamination head during attachment of the first fiber-reinforced plastic tape, an in-plane second component of translational displacement which is perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the translational displacement, and the image. | 05-17-2012 |
20120147174 | ANALYSIS DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING A THERMOFORMING PROCESS IN A THERMOFORMING LAMINATING DEVICE - The present invention relates to an analysis device ( | 06-14-2012 |
20120147175 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING COMPOSITE MATERIAL COMPONENTS, DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COMPOSITE MATERIAL COMPONENTS, AND INSPECTION DEVICE - A method for producing composite material components is provided with a process of laminating fiber-reinforced plastic tape. The method includes, at a plurality of sites from an attachment starting site to an attachment ending site of a first fiber-reinforced plastic tape, determining an attachment state of the first fiber-reinforced plastic tape during lamination of the fiber-reinforced plastic tape. The lamination is stopped when it is determined that the first fiber-reinforced plastic tape overlaps with a second fiber-reinforced plastic tape at a first site of the plurality of sites and that a gap exists between the first fiber-reinforced plastic tape and the second fiber-reinforced plastic tape at a second site of the plurality of sites. And, the lamination is continued when it is determined that the first fiber-reinforced plastic tape overlaps with the second fiber-reinforced plastic tape at all of the plurality of sites. | 06-14-2012 |
20120188363 | INSPECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD USING PATTERN RECOGNITION - Inspection apparatus comprises a feed system for delivering a stream of articles to an imaging zone. A camera generates image data from the stream at the imaging zone for processing by a computer. The computer comprises a pattern recognition system for identifying defects in areas from the image data, and for ranking identified defects. The pattern recognition system is programmed to operate according to multiple defect criteria. The computer is also coupled to a graphical user interface to display the areas identified from the image data as thumbnails on the interface arranged according to rank of the identified defects in the areas, in each of at least two defect criteria. The areas from the generated image data will normally be defined around each identified defect with the defect central therein. These areas, or thumbnails, can overlap. | 07-26-2012 |
20120236139 | DESTRUCTIVE WEB THICKNESS MEASURING SYSTEM OF MICRODRILLS AND METHOD THEREOF - A destructive web thickness measuring system of microdrills includes a computer device, a dual-axis motion platform module, a drill grinding module, a positioning vision module, and a web thickness measuring vision module. When the computer device controls the dual-axis motion platform module to move a microdrill to a first locating position, the computer device performs a positioning procedure according to a first image captured by the positioning vision module, and then performs a grinding procedure, so that the drill grinding module grinds the microdrill to a sectional position to be inspected. When the ground microdrill moves to an image measuring position, the computer device performs an image computing procedure according to a second image captured by the web thickness measuring vision module, so as to obtain a web thickness value. Therefore, the destructive web thickness measuring system of microdrills can automatically measure the web thickness value. | 09-20-2012 |
20120268586 | METHOD FOR ONLINE DETERMINATION OF CURE STATUS OF GLASS FIBER PRODUCTS - A method for assessing the cure status of a fibrous blanket manufactured with mineral fibers and binder is disclosed and comprises a using an online optical reflectance measurement as an assessment of cure status. The optical reflectance measurement may preferably be a color image taken of any surface, and in particular of a sectioned face, after which the image is optionally divided into multiple regions of interest (ROI) and analyzed for a color system variable that is representative of cure status. In some embodiments, the color system variable is the B value. Alternatively, the optical reflectance measurement may be UV or IR reflectance of a sectioned face. When two or more regions of interest are defined on a sectioned face, comparative information is valuable to assess cure at different levels, layers or portions of the interior of the fibrous product. | 10-25-2012 |
20130063587 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING WASTE AND IMPROVING QUALITY AND PRODUCTION IN WEB PROCESSING OPERATIONS BY AUTOMATIC NARROW WEB TWIST DEFECT CORRECTION - Apparatus and methods are provided to minimize waste and improve quality and production in web processing operations. The apparatus and methods provide defect detection in deposition of acquisition material, which on current machines frequently flips and is difficult to detect when it has flipped causing manufacturers to scrap thousands of products. Using the present invention, defects are able to be detected by discerning a difference in the appearance from side to side with a vision camera, and an acquisition inverter can flip the material to a correct orientation. | 03-14-2013 |
20130070080 | HIGH SPEED TENTER CHAIN INSPECTION SYSTEM - A method and system to inspect high speed tenter chain components is disclosed. The novel chain inspection system include a combination of high speed-high resolution cameras, inductive proximity sensors, strobe lighting, spot cooling, and imaging software to proactively and predictively identify defective, missing, or misaligned tenter clip bearings and springs. This system significantly reduces downtime and productivity losses typically used to troubleshoot and find such damaged or missing components. | 03-21-2013 |
20130120555 | Methods and Systems Involving Manufacturing Sheet Products - A method includes receiving a first image of a first line of perforations in a sheet product, processing the first image to determine whether the first line of perforations are within specifications, and outputting an indication to an operator indicative that the first line of perforations are not within specifications responsive to determining that the first line of perforations are not within specifications. | 05-16-2013 |
20130329037 | NONCONTACT CALIPER MEASUREMENTS OF SHEET PRODUCTS USING INTERSECTING LINES IN SHEET MANUFACTURING OR PROCESSING SYSTEMS - A method includes obtaining multiple images of a sheet of material. The images contain a first line projected onto a first side of the sheet and a second line projected onto a second side of the sheet. The images include (i) at least one first image containing the first line reflected off the first side of the sheet and the second line transmitted through the sheet and (ii) at least one second image containing the second line reflected off the second side of the sheet and the first line transmitted through the sheet. The method also includes identifying at least one point of intersection in the images where the lines intersect on the sheet. The method further includes identifying a caliper of the sheet using the at least one point of intersection. | 12-12-2013 |
20140028831 | METHOD FOR CHECKING THE PLAY BETWEEN STRIPS DEPOSITED BY A DRAPE-FORMING HEAD, AND SUB-ASSEMBLY OF A DRAPE-FORMING HEAD WITH AN ONBOARD CHECKING DEVICE - The invention present disclosure relates to a sub-assembly of a drape-forming head ( | 01-30-2014 |
20140085456 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING QUILTING MACHINE - A monitoring system for use with a sewing machine. The monitoring system includes a camera assembly mounted to a base of the sewing machine with a camera that collects images from a bottom side of the fabric. The camera assembly delivers images of the back side of the fabric to a monitor assembly that includes a display device. The display device displays the images collected by the camera. The monitor can be mounted to an upper or arm portion of the sewing machine for convenient viewing by the operator during use of the sewing machine. | 03-27-2014 |
20140146163 | REEL-TO-REEL INSPECTION APPARATUS AND INSPECTION METHOD USING THE SAME - Provided are a reel-to-reel inspection apparatus and method. The reel-to-reel inspection apparatus includes: an unwinding unit configured to unwind a roll-shaped object; a first inspection unit configured to photograph a surface of the object discharged from the unwinding unit; a second inspection unit configured to photograph another surface of the object which has passed through the first inspection unit; a marking unit configured to indicate a mark on the object which has passed through the second inspection unit; and a winding unit configured to wind in a roll shape the object which has passed through the marking unit. | 05-29-2014 |
20140168410 | MASK INSPECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A mask inspection apparatus includes a mask transfer unit configured to transfer a mask in one of a first direction and a direction opposite to the first direction, a displacement sensor unit configured to measure a distance to a sheet of the mask transferred by the mask transfer unit, a photographic unit configured to photograph the sheet of the mask transferred by the mask transfer unit, a control unit configured to send a height control signal for controlling a height of the photographic unit according to the measured distance, and a height control unit configured to control the height of the photographic unit according to the height control signal sent by the control unit. | 06-19-2014 |
20140218502 | INSPECTION SYSTEM FOR IN-LINE INSPECTION OF PRINTED MATERIAL PRODUCED ON AN INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESS - There is described an inspection system ( | 08-07-2014 |
20140253717 | CONTINUOUS CONTACT-BASED THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENT - Continuous measurement of surfaces larger than a sensor is facilitated by the use of a sensor matrix of a clear elastomer and a reflective surface that scrolls, rolls, or otherwise moves over a target surface. A variety of web materials, camera configurations, and handling systems are described to achieve continuous three-dimensional measurement in this context. | 09-11-2014 |
20140293040 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING SOLID MATTER PRESENT IN LIQUIDS - The present invention relates to a device, system and method to measure tackiness of a substance, such as pulp, with an on-line or an in-line sensor having a transparent plate with a surface where tacky particles can attach. Attached particles are identified by a camera behind the plate. The camera is focused to detect stationary particles attached to the surface. Measurement is performed directly from a process stream or from a sidesteam and the plate does not need to be removed from the process for the measurement. The plate material may be plastic, such as polycarbonate or acrylic. Additionally, the flow speed may be kept be low, e.g. <0.1 m/s at the measurement position, and/or there may be a stagnation point of flow at or near measurement where the flow speed approaches zero. | 10-02-2014 |
20140320634 | CLEANING SYSTEM FOR PINHOLE CAMERA - The invention relates to a web monitoring beam including at least one camera placed therein and being equipped with a camera lens cleaning system with means for generating compressed air. The camera placed inside the web monitoring beam is a pinhole camera with a chamber area between the lens and the pinhole of the pinhole camera. Compressed air is blown into the chamber area, which compressed air exits via the pinhole of the pinhole camera, removing the impurities from the chamber area. The invention also relates to a pinhole camera including a cleaning system. | 10-30-2014 |
20140347467 | DEVICE FOR INSPECTING RAISED FIBER STATE OF WEB MEMBERS OF SANITARY ARTICLES AND METHOD OF THE SAME - A device for inspecting a raised fiber state of a web member of a sanitary article, the web member having, on at least one face, fiber raisable parts that come off from the one face in a predetermined dispersed arrangement pattern, new exposed parts being created on the one face when the fiber raisable parts come off to be raised, wherein the inspection device includes an image capturing processing part that captures an image of the one face and creates as a planar image data, a data of a planar image of the one face, a binarization processing part that performs, when creating a binarized image based on the planar image data, a binarization process so that areas in which images of the new exposed parts in the planar image are captured, are included in an image specified by one value of two values in the binarized image, and a quality judgment processing part that performs quality judgment of the raised fiber state based on a value indicating a size of the image. | 11-27-2014 |
20150077538 | Apparatus and Method for Inspecting Printed Images - An apparatus can be used for inspecting printed images for a printing or finishing machine with continuously moved printed products. An illumination unit with a light source illuminates a recording region and an image capture apparatus with at least one camera, for example a line scanning camera, is set up to capture an image inside the recording region, which extends over the width of the printed product, wherein the image capture apparatus is set up to generate a multi-line partial image. | 03-19-2015 |
20150299952 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING WEB - A system for monitoring production of tissue paper in a dry end of a paper machine which includes at least one detecting unit configured to form image data in visible light from the moving tissue paper and thermal data in response to temperatures capable of igniting the tissue paper from at least one of the following: the tissue paper, at least one section of the paper machine. A processing unit analyzes the image and thermal data from the detecting unit for detecting visibly observable deviations in the tissue paper and temperature deviations capable of igniting the tissue paper for notifying a user about the temperature deviations. | 10-22-2015 |
20160083283 | CERAMIC MEMBER AND DEFECT TEST SYSTEM - A ceramic member includes a housing body made of ceramics provided with a first surface set as a measurement base surface extending in an X1 direction and a Y1 direction that is perpendicular to the X1 direction, and an attachment surface to which a member to be attached is fixed, the attachment surface being provided to have a first inclined angle with respect to the measurement base surface in the X1 direction and a second inclined angle with respect to the measurement base surface in the Y1 direction. | 03-24-2016 |
20160133005 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TERMINATING AND TESTING CONNECTORS - At least some embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of optical fiber splicing and the evaluation of resulting splice joints. In an embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus for evaluating the integrity of a mechanical splice joint, and comprises a light source, digital video camera, digital signal processor, and visual indicator, wherein the apparatus connects to the test connector and the digital signal processor analyzes digital images of the scatter light from at least a portion of the test connector. | 05-12-2016 |
20160142682 | Synchronization of Imaging - The invention relates to a method, the method comprises exposing an image frame of an object to be monitored by an area image sensor, transmitting a part of the exposed image frame to an image data processing device, analysing the part and if the part is detected to comprise a predefined event, said image data processing device is arranged to transmit a trigger signal for triggering said area image sensor so that said area image sensor transmits a bigger part of at least one further image frame to said image data processing device for further analysis, and if not the area image sensor continues to expose at least one further image frame and to transmit a part of said at least one exposed further image frame. The invention further relates to a machine vision system for performing the method and a computer program product comprising instructions to perform the method. | 05-19-2016 |
20160377420 | NON-CONTACT GAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTOURED GLASS SHEETS - A system and method for gaging the shape of a curved glass sheet includes, as components, (1) a system and method for acquiring three-dimensional surface data corresponding to the glass sheet, and (2) a system and method for receiving the acquired surface data, comparing the acquired surface to a pre-defined surface description, and developing indicia of the level of conformance of the contoured glass sheet to the pre-defined specification. The surface data acquisition system includes a conveyor for conveying the glass sheet, at least one display projecting a preselected contrasting pattern, and at least one camera. The camera(s) and display(s) are uniquely paired and are mounted in a spaced-apart relationship a known distance and angle from the surface of the glass sheet such that the camera detects the reflected image of the pattern projected on the surface of the glass sheet from its associated display. | 12-29-2016 |