Optical inspection machine for the quality control of parts
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Publication Number
US-12019033-B2
Publication Date
2024-06-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
An optical inspection machine for the quality control of parts, in particular gaskets, comprises a rotary table on which the parts to be inspected are positioned and, above said rotary table, a peripheral viewing unit suitable for inspecting the outer and/or inner side surfaces of a part. The unit comprises a plurality of downward-facing video cameras and, beneath each video camera, at least one angled mirror suitable for reflecting the image of a portion of the outer and/or inner side surface of the part to be inspected.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an optical inspection machine for the quality control of parts, in particular gaskets. The machine positions the parts on a rotary table and provides, above the rotary table, a peripheral viewing unit suitable for inspecting outer and/or inner side surfaces of a part.
The peripheral viewing unit uses a peripheral inspection frame with a vertical axis that slidably supports a plurality of peripheral video cameras resting on a substantially horizontal video camera plane. The peripheral inspection frame is substantially toroidal and supports vertically movable peripheral video cameras via a peripheral-video-camera-focusing drive unit, with the peripheral video cameras pointed downward.
At the base of the frame beneath each video camera, the frame holds at least one angled mirror for reflecting an image of a portion of the outer and/or inner side surface. The peripheral inspection frame supports, beneath each video camera, a pair of angled mirrors sitting side-by-side in the radial direction with different heights relative to the rotary table for reflecting corresponding images of various portions of the outer and/or inner side surface.
The optical inspection machine further includes an upper peripheral illuminator illuminating a part placed on the rotary table coaxially with the frame. The document also describes integration with a surface viewing unit inserted into an axial cavity of the peripheral viewing unit for inspecting at the same station, together with illuminator structures with a movable elastically supported illuminator plate, guided linear movement using a spacing member, and inlet and outlet openings enabling parts of differing sizes to pass through.
Claims Coverage
The provided material identifies one independent claim, with dependent claims that refine the mirror and camera geometry, illuminator adjustability, and integration with a surface viewing unit. The independent claim contains the core structural and optical arrangement of the peripheral inspection frame, cameras, downward viewing direction, angled mirrors, and the upper peripheral illuminator.
Substantially toroidal peripheral inspection frame with downward-pointing peripheral video cameras
An optical inspection machine comprises a rotary table and, above it, a peripheral viewing unit for inspecting outer and/or inner side surfaces, wherein the peripheral inspection unit comprises a substantially toroidal peripheral inspection frame with a vertical axis that slidably supports a plurality of peripheral video cameras resting on a substantially horizontal video camera plane, with peripheral-video-camera-focusing drive units suitable for moving the video cameras in the vertical direction and wherein the peripheral video cameras are pointed downward.
Angled mirrors beneath each camera reflect outer and/or inner side surface portions
The peripheral inspection frame holds at its base and beneath each video camera at least one angled mirror suitable for reflecting the image of a portion of the outer and/or inner side surface of the part to be inspected.
Pair of angled mirrors side-by-side in radial direction with different heights
The peripheral inspection frame supports, at the base thereof, beneath each video camera, a pair of angled mirrors sitting side-by-side in the radial direction and with different heights in relation to the rotary table so as to reflect corresponding images of various portions of the outer and/or inner side surface of the part to be inspected.
Coaxial upper peripheral illuminator illuminating the part on the rotary table
The peripheral viewing unit includes an upper peripheral illuminator for illuminating a part placed on the rotary table coaxially with the frame.
Camera and mirror refinements including mirror angles and heptagon placement
Dependent refinements specify mirror pairs with different mirror angles and a placement arrangement with seven peripheral video cameras placed at the vertices of a regular heptagon.
Illuminator adjustability using an elastically supported movable illuminator plate
Dependent refinements specify a movable, elastically supported upper peripheral illuminator whose position can be linearly raised by engaging a spacing member to adjust the distance between the illuminator and a reference plane based on part shape, color, and/or dimensions.
Integration with a surface viewing unit via insertion into an axial cavity
Dependent refinements add a peripheral surface viewing unit with a substantially cylindrical, vertically oriented, vertically slidable video-camera inspection frame forming an internal axial cavity, a vertically adjustable focusing drive, and a base low-angle surface illuminator, with an upper peripheral illuminator removably connected for replacement.
Annular mirror-mounting plate and guided spring-driven illuminator plate
Dependent refinements specify an annular mirror-mounting plate and vertically extending blocks supporting each mirror or mirror pair, and a movable illuminator plate overlaid on a fixed illuminator plate, connected via a system of springs and moved linearly in guided fashion.
Across the independent claim and identified dependent refinements, the core claim coverage focuses on a substantially toroidal peripheral inspection frame with downward-pointing peripheral video cameras moved vertically, with angled mirrors beneath each camera reflecting images of outer/inner side surface portions. The coverage further emphasizes mirror pairs side-by-side in the radial direction with different heights, and includes an upper peripheral illuminator coaxial with the frame, with dependent features refining mirror angles, seven cameras at the vertices of a regular heptagon, illuminator position adjustability, and integration with a surface viewing unit and related illuminator structures.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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