Counting bar-shaped products based upon acquired images

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016267374-A1
Application number	US-201514643914-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 10, 2015
Priority date	Mar 10, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A conveyor element ( 2 ) of a conveyor device conveys bar-shaped products ( 1 ) orthogonal to a longitudinal direction (x) of the bar-shaped products ( 1 ) oriented in a conveying direction (y). A trigger device ( 3 ) provides a trigger signal (S) each time the conveyor element ( 2 ) has traveled a predetermined interval. Based upon the respective trigger signal (S), an image (B) is acquired by a camera ( 4 ). The image (B) shows front ends of the products ( 1 ) in a respective section of the conveyor element ( 2 ) corresponding at least to the predetermined interval. Based upon the acquired images (B), the number of bar-shaped products ( 1 ) conveyed by the conveyor element ( 2 ) is determined.

First claim

1 . A method of operation for a conveyor device for conveying bar-shaped products, wherein the bar shaped products have a longitudinal direction;
the method comprising: conveying the bar-shaped products by a conveyor element in a conveying direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the bar-shaped products; providing a respective trigger signal by a trigger device each time the conveyor element has traveled a predetermined interval; acquiring an image by a camera based upon the respective trigger signal, such that the acquired image shows front ends of the products then in a respective section of the conveyor element corresponding at least to the predetermined interval; and determining the number of bar-shaped products conveyed by the conveyor element based upon the acquired images.

2 . A method of operation according to claim 1 , further comprising illuminating the front ends of the products in the respective section of the conveyor element by a light source.

3 . A method of operation according to claim 2 , wherein the light source emits light within a specified wavelength range, and the method further comprising filtering the light provided to the camera by a filter matched to the specified wavelength range.

4 . A method of operation according to claim 3 , wherein the light source emits red light.

5 . A method of operation according to claim 1 , further comprising continuously detecting and measuring a conveying speed of the conveyor element with a measuring device, providing the detected conveying speed to the trigger device, and the trigger device issuing the trigger signals according to the detected conveying speed.

6 . A method of operation according to claim 1 , further comprising positioning trigger marks in equidistant intervals on the conveyor element or on an auxiliary structure which moves together with the conveyor element;
detecting the presence of a trigger mark by a sensor of the trigger device as the trigger mark moves past a predetermined location, wherein detection of presence of a respective trigger mark triggers outputting a respective trigger signal.

7 . A method of operation according to claim 1 , further comprising separators located and configured for separating groups of the products from each other are positioned at equidistant intervals on the conveyor element or on an auxiliary structure which moves together with the conveyor element, wherein the issuing of the trigger signals is matched to the locations of the separators such that the section of the conveyor element, seen in conveying direction, is terminated on both longitudinal direction sides by a respective separator.

8 . A method of operation according to claim 1 , wherein the acquired images, seen in the conveying direction, each correspond with one interval or wherein within the acquired images a window is defined, and a width of the window, seen in the conveying direction, corresponds with one interval.

9 . A conveyor device for conveying bar-shaped products, wherein the bar-shaped products have a longitudinal direction;
the conveyor device comprises: a conveyor element configured and operable for conveying the bar-shaped products in a conveying direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the bar-shaped products; the conveyor device comprises a trigger device configured and operable for providing a respective trigger signal each time the conveyor element has traveled a predetermined interval; based upon the respective trigger signal, the conveyor device comprises a camera acquiring an image showing front ends of the products in a section of the conveyor element corresponding at least to the predetermined interval; and based upon the acquired images, the conveyor device comprises a processing device located and configured for determining the number of bar-shaped products conveyed by the conveyor element.

10 . A conveyor device according to claim 9 , further comprising a light source configured for illuminating the front ends of the products in the respective section of the conveyor element.

11 . A conveyor device according to claim 10 , further comprising the light source emits light within a specified wavelength range, and a filter configured for filtering the light is provided to the camera, wherein the filter is arranged in front of the camera, and the filter is matched to the specified wavelength range.

12 . A conveyor device according to claim 11 , wherein the light source is emitting red light.

13 . A conveyor device according to claim 9 , wherein the conveyor element is configured and operable for conveying the products at a conveying speed;
the conveyor device comprising a measuring device for continuously measuring the conveying speed, the measuring device being connected to the trigger device for providing the measured conveying speed to the trigger device, and the trigger device being configured to issue the trigger signals according to the measured conveying speed.

14 . A conveyor device according to claim 9 , further comprising trigger marks positioned at equidistant intervals on the conveyor element or on an auxiliary structure which moves together with the conveyor element;
the trigger device comprises a sensor for detecting the presence of a trigger mark and the trigger mark is at a predetermined location, wherein the sensor detecting the presence of a respective trigger mark triggers outputting a respective trigger signal.

15 . A conveyor device according to claim 14 , further comprising the sensor has a mounting that is adjustable.

16 . A conveyor device according to claim 9 , wherein separators located and configured for separating groups of the products from each other are positioned at equidistant intervals on the conveyor element or on an auxiliary structure which moves together with the conveyor element, in a manner such that the issuing of the trigger signals is matched to the locations of the separators and such that the section of the conveyor element, seen in conveying direction, is terminated on both longitudinal direction sides by a respective separator.

17 . A conveyor device according to claim 9 , wherein the acquired images, seen in the conveying direction, each corresponds with one interval or wherein a window is defined within the acquired images, wherein a width of the window, seen in the conveying direction, corresponds with one of the intervals.

Assignees

• Primetals Technologies Germany Gmbh

Inventors

• Kirkwood Azmat Ruth
• Ceccarini Christopher
• Manoria Ritesh

Classifications

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• G06M7/00 Primary

  Counting of objects carried by a conveyor · CPC title

• G06M1/101

  by electro-optical means · CPC title

• H04N7/183

  for receiving images from a single remote source · CPC title