Object inspection and sorting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11842477-B2
Application number	US-202016924877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2020
Priority date	Mar 4, 2004
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

A machine vision system for automatically identifying and inspecting objects is disclosed, including composable vision-based recognition modules and a decision algorithm to perform the final determination on object type and quality. This vision system has been used to develop a Projectile Identification System and an Automated Tactical Ammunition Classification System. The technology can be used to create numerous other inspection and automated identification systems.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for inspecting and sorting objects, comprising:
a transport mechanism including an input for receiving objects to be inspected and an output including an object sorter operative to direct objects to different locations based upon object type;
wherein the objects are transported through an object identification stage including object recognition and decision modules;
wherein the object recognition module includes a combination of sensors and cameras to gather information about the objects, including the size or shape of the objects, the color or intensity of the objects, or visual indicia on the objects;
wherein the size or shape of the objects includes the profiles of the objects, determined by the object recognition module using an edge-detection algorithm;
wherein the profiles of the objects are compared to stored template data for known objects; and
wherein the decision module includes a processor operative to fuse the information from the sensors and cameras to identify the type of object being inspected based in part on the comparison to the stored template data.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the combination of optical sensors and cameras includes a line-scan camera.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicia includes a computer-readable code.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicia includes a human-readable code or text, and the processor is operative to perform character recognition.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the decision module uses hue-based color-matching to assist in identifying an object.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the object is a round of ammunition, and the decision module is operative to determine the type of ammunition.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the object is an ammunition shell, and the decision module is operative to use charge recognition to determine the number of charges on the shell.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sorter directs objects identified by color, coding, type or quality into one or more corresponding bins.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein combination of sensors and cameras includes an eddy current sensor.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein combination of sensors and cameras includes an ultrasound sensor.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein combination of sensors and cameras includes a spectroscope.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein combination of sensors and cameras includes an interferometer.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the objects are glass or plastic, and the sorter diverts the objects to different bins or recycling purposes.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the objects are machined parts.

Assignees

• Cybernet Systems Corp

Inventors

• Beach Glenn J
• Moody Gary
• Burkowski James
• Jacobus Charles J

Classifications

• G06T7/001 Primary

  using an image reference approach · CPC title

• B07C5/34

  Sorting according to other particular properties {(material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14)} · CPC title

• B07C5/3412

  according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication (sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00) · CPC title

• B07C5/3422

  using video scanning devices, e.g. TV-cameras · CPC title

• F42B35/00

  Testing or checking of ammunition {(apparatus for measuring the energy of projectiles G01L5/14)} · CPC title