Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H63/00—Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions ; Quality control of the package
  • B65H63/006—Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions ; Quality control of the package quality control of the package
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
  • G01N21/8851—Scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment, for detecting different kinds of defects, for compensating for structures, markings, edges
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
  • G01N21/95—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined
  • G01N21/952—Inspecting the exterior surface of cylindrical bodies or wires
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
  • B65H2553/40—Sensing or detecting means using optical, e.g. photographic, elements
  • B65H2553/42—Cameras
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
  • B65H2701/30—Handled filamentary material
  • B65H2701/31—Textiles threads or artificial strands of filaments
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N2021/845—Objects on a conveyor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for detecting the presence of abnormalities in a reel.
• the invention also concerns methods using said device.
• Various material such as woven or nonwoven fabrics, metal or yarn are advantageously packed and provided to manufacturers in reel(s) (also named roll or bobbin depending on the material) to optimize the delivery in terms of quantity and easy to carry package.
• the raw material undergoes generally a process of cutting, winding and packaging in order to be ready for delivery to the consumer without defects.
• Failures in the product that will be wound on the reel are checked by inspecting flat surface during the production process. Before the product enters the winder it goes through an inspection usually carried out in a two-dimensional plane to verify failures such as, holes, dirt, insects, filaments distribution, among others.
• the document W02014160180 A1 (ALCOA INC [US]) describes a system for inspecting the roll surface comprising a prims, a camera and a light source.
• the light source and the prism are set up so as to provide light to the surface of the roll at an angle of 75 degrees.
• the camera is still and scans the roll to provide a plurality of lines, each line corresponding to a section of the roll.
• the system comprises a computer-based program capable of creating at least one frame by combining the received lines, the frame being a two dimensions image.
• the disclosed method and system are limited to hot or cold metal.
• the document EP0934897 A1 discloses an apparatus for inspecting spinning bobbins of yarn.
• the apparatus comprises two 2D cameras that are displaced with respect to the bobbin in a direction parallel to the bobbin’s longitudinal axis by suitable driving means. Each camera shoots a plurality of images from various areas of the bobbin under particular lighting conditions. The various images are later on processed by a computer program to evaluate defects of the yarn bobbin.
• the document W00240383 A2 (LINETECH IND INC [US]) describes a filament inspection method for detecting abnormalities in a wound yarn package. The disclosed method includes illuminating the yarn package while sensing and recording a 2D image of the illuminated yarn package. The method further includes evaluating the recorded image in accordance with predetermined criteria to determine whether the recorded image indicates the presence of any abnormalities in the yarn package.
• the document JPH085581 A (KANEBO LTD) describes a contamination detector for a bobbin wherein a gray level image input means (CCD camera), i.e. 2D camera, picks up the image of a thread winding bobbin. The image is subjected to A/D conversion before being transferred to a processing section for detecting contamination.
• CCD camera gray level image input means
• 2D camera 2D camera
• One of the object of the invention is to provide a device and a method free from, or at least minimizing, the limitations of the known devices and methods.
• Another object of the invention is to provide information on abnormalities that may be encountered in reels, in particular on the external surface of said reel, for instance measurement of said abnormality.
• Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device and a method capable of generating accurate images and providing valuable and reliable information on abnormalities to the user to approve or not the quality of the reel.
• Still another object of the invention is to provide a device and a method to determine abnormalities, such as failures and contaminations, that could have occurred during the winding and cutting of the reels, preventing the consumer or user of these reels from receiving the product with failures and/or contaminations.
• an image capturing module for capturing images of the reel, said image capturing module comprising at least one camera,
• the image capture module comprises upper capture means for capturing image of the upper face of the reel, and lower capture means for capturing image of the lower face of the reel,
• the upper capture means being fixed on a movable support arranged for being movable with respect to lower capture means
• the upper capture means and/or the lower capture means comprising at least one three dimensions (3D) camera arranged for providing a three dimensions (3D) image of the reel.
• the present invention comprises an image capture module organized in upper capture means and lower capture means.
• the reel operated by displacing means, is displaced between the upper capture means and the lower capture means.
• the reel is inspected on its upper face by the upper capture means and on the lower face by the lower capture means, thereby providing images from both upper and lower faces of the reel.
• the upper image capture means comprises at least one 3D camera for providing 3D images of the reel operated by the displacing means.
• the 3D images are processed by analyzing means for detecting the presence of abnormalities.
• the presence of 3D camera is very advantageous since it provides more accurate images of the reel, thereby facilitating the detection of abnormalities.
• the 3D camera of the upper capture means is fixed on a moveable support arranged for being moveable with respect to the lower capture means.
• the movable support allows adjusting the position of the upper capture means with respect to the reel, for instance depending on the height of said reel. Therefore, the camera(s) fixed on the moveable support will be kept always above the upper face of the reel.
• the cameras are stationary relative to one another.
• the motion of the moveable support allows moving all the camera simultaneously
• the cameras move and this movement is done in order to scan all the reel.
• the support moves, the cameras are fixed in the support, and this movement is for adjusting the accuracy of the image that the camera be capture. This adjust is very important in view of the size of the reel. This movement ensures that the capture means can capture images that any size of reel.
• the system adjusts the cameras by moving the moveable support according to the reel height for instance.
• the images from the camera(s) of the moveable support are all generated from the same point with respect to the reel which improves the accuracy of the captured images. It also allows one by one comparison between the captured images from the cameras of the moveable support. Overall, it increases the reliability of the captured images.
• the distance between the moveable support and the reel is adjusted automatically depending on the known parameters of the reel to be inspected, for instance the width of said reel.
• the device of the invention can adjust itself automatically for all kinds of reels.
• the moveable support is also advantageous for tuning the focus of the 3D camera on the reel, in particular on the upper face of said reel.
• the analyzing means is capable of calculating the best position for the moveable support in order to obtain for example the best focus configuration for the cameras of said moveable support.
• the lower capture means are either stationary or mobile with respect to the upper capture means.
• the lower capture means are preferably stationary.
• the upper capture means comprise at least one 3D camera and at least one 2D camera. All the cameras are fixed on the moveable support which helps providing a constant gap between the cameras and the reel.
• the image capturing module further comprises illuminating means for illuminating the reel during the image’s capturing.
• the illuminating means are coupled to the moveable support so that the camera(s) of the moveable support and the illuminating means are moveable simultaneously.
• the upper capture means and the lower capture means each comprises illuminating means.
• the illuminating means comprises a set of LED.
• the illuminating means comprises at least a set of LED.
• the illuminating means comprises 5 (five) set of LED coupled to the upper capture means, and 5 set of LED coupled to the lower capture means.
• the device comprises one LED per camera.
• the device further comprises at least one actuator for actuating the displacement of the movable support. When all the cameras of the upper capture means are fixed on a single movable support, the actuator is capable of actuating simultaneously the motion of all the cameras.
• the device further comprises one or more guide for guiding the motion of the moveable support.
• the 3D camera comprises a laser emitter coupled to an image acquisition camera.
• the laser emitter emits for instance in line format.
• the acquisition camera operates preferably through the principle of sturdy light.
• the camera visualizes the deformation of the laser when focusing on the reel, and through this image, while the reel is in motion, it is possible to generate a three dimensional map of the surface of the reel that is subsequently processed by the analyzing means.
• This equipment it is possible to analyze dimensional characteristics of the reel, as well as defects related to the surface of the reels such as corrugations, steps, etc...
• the 2D camera is an equipment for image acquisition in line format, preferably with 4096 pixels, preferably at least 4096 pixels (minimum).
• the image is formed by passing the reel under the camera, the line-by-line acquisition being made to provide an image comprising the complete product.
• the image is subsequently processed by the analyzing means.
• the camera(s) of the device are coupled to an encoder to ensure each camera is capturing the same size of images.
• the encoder is coupled to the displacing means, for instance the conveyor belt with rollers, to receive exactly the speed of reel with respect to the camera(s). This allows the synchronization of the camera(s).
• the device comprises at least a sensor module for activating and deactivating the image capture module to control the image’s capture depending on the position of the reel with respect to the camera(s).
• the sensor can be coupled to the displacing means so as to automatically switch on or off the image capture means depending on the position of the reel.
• the sensor module allows to synchronize the capture means and the illuminating means with the position of the reel.
• the senor comprises a safety sensor, for instance a safety barrier.
• the safety sensor is coupled to the displacing means and is capable of stopping the displacement of the reel by the displacing means, for instance in case of collision between the reel and the moveable support.
• the sensor helps to avoid crashes between the reel and the movable support.
• the displacing means is a conveyor belt with rollers
• the safety module for instance a safety barrier, can turn off the rotation of the roller in case of collision between the reel and the moveable support.
• the displacing means comprises at least a conveyor belt for conveying the guiding of the reel through the field of view of said at least one camera.
• conveyor belt comprises a plurality of rollers, said rollers having a beveled surface arranged for contacting the reel.
• the rollers of the conveyor belt have been preferably redesigned so as to have a beveled surface.
• the beveled surface allows to avoid any contact between the core of the reel and the roller if we have an off set on it. When the core touches the roller, it can impact of images capturing.
• the device of the invention comprises analyzing means for processing or analyzing the captured images and detecting the abnormalities.
• the analyzing means comprises a software or a computer implemented program. The analyzing means receive the captured images.
• the device further comprises computation means for computing at least one parameter of the detected abnormality, such as measuring at least one dimension of said abnormality, such as the width, the diameter or the height or the volume.
• the analyzing means compare a computed parameter with a reference parameter known of the reel to detect an abnormality of the reel. For instance, based on the processed image provided by the 3D image from the 3D camera, the analyzing means calculate a dimension of the reel, for instance the diameter, and compare it to the reference value to determine whether the calculated diameter matches the reference value. If the calculated parameter does not match the reference value, it means there is an abnormality.
• the analyzing means are arranged for stopping the displacing means and issuing an audible warning and/or sending a warning message to the user if one or more abnormalities are found, preferably the warning are settable, for instance on software.
• the abnormalities are chosen among misaligned core, core dimensions default, crushed core, width variation, diameter variation, irregular side such as coning, telescope effect, nail head or waving, or strange objects or color contamination, and foreign body.
• a method for detecting one or more abnormalities in a reel comprising i) providing a device according to the invention as described above; ii) activating the displacing means so as to place the reel between the upper capturing means and the lower capturing means; iii) actuating the movable support so as to place the reel in the field of view of the 3D camera; iv) capturing images of the reel; v) analyzing the captured images to detect the presence of abnormalities;
• the method further comprises the step of:
• the theoretical value can be calculated by the software, or provided to the device by the user.
• the theoretical value is for instance a reel specification or dimension required for by the customer.
• the analyzing means preferably control the motion, i.e. the positioning, of the moveable support.
• the image capturing module comprises at least one 3D camera and at least one 2D camera
• the method further comprises: - Computing the captured 3D and the 2D images to generate a processed image
• the method further comprises computation means for computing a parameter of the detected abnormality by measuring at least one dimension of said abnormalities such as the width or the height or the volume diameter, visual defects such as misaligned core, core dimensions default, crushed core, irregular side such as coning, telescope effect, nail head or waving or strange objects or color contamination.
• the computation means compare the measured dimension with a standard measure, in other word a reference measure to detect any abnormality.
• the reference measure is the measure of the dimension without abnormality.
• abnormality defines defects, in other words failures, that can occur in reel, for instance a poorly wound reels, reel with decentralized core or with a varied volume along the diameter of the reel. Abnormality also defines contaminations, in other words objects or elements that can end up caught in the reel, for instance hair strands, dust, insects. Abnormalities in reel decrease the quality of the product.
• the present invention aims at detecting abnormalities in the reel, for instance on the external surface of the reel.
• the external surface of the reel can be defined as the surface of reel that is visible to the user.
• the reel is a cylindrical element that comprises the two opposite main faces delimited by a circular lateral face.
• the external surface of the reel comprises the surface of said two main faces and the surface of said circular lateral face.
• the present invention can be applied to all materials suitable for being packed in reel, such as paper, fabric (either woven or nonwoven), metal, etc... In a preferred embodiment, the claimed invention is used for reels comprising nonwoven fabric.
• FIG. 1 shows an overview of the device according to a first embodiment
• FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of the upper part of the device of figure 1 ;
• FIG. 2b shows a perspective view of the lower part of the device of figure 1 ;
• FIG. 3 shows an overview of the device of figure 1 operating a reel
• Table 1 represents comparative results between the invention and the existing prior art to detect some abnormalities.
• Table 2 illustrates some abnormalities that could be detected with the present invention
• Figures 1 to 4 represent a device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.
• the device 1 comprises a frame 2 hosting an image capturing module 3, and displacing means 4 represented here as a conveyor belt 5 with beveled shapes rollers 22 as shown in figure 4.
• the device was used in a nonwoven factory where after cutting of said reels, these are individually taken and transported, one by one, to the conveyor belt of the device for abnormalities detection.
• the image capturing module 3 comprises upper capture means 6 and lower capture means 7, as shown in figures 2a and 2b.
• the reel 8 When the device 1 operates a reel 8 to be inspected, as shown in figure 3, the reel 8 is placed on the conveyor 5 that displaces the reel 8 toward the image capturing module 3, in other words between the upper capture means 6 and the lower capture means 7.
• the upper capturing means 6 capture image of the upper face 9 of the reel 8.
• the lower capturing means 7 capture image of the lower face 10 of the reel 8.
• the upper capturing means 6 and the lower capturing means 7 are also capable of capturing images from the circular lateral face 1 1 of the reel 8, in addition to the upper 9 and lower 10 faces of the reel 8.
• the upper capture means 6 and lower capturing means 7 are respectively received in an upper housing 12 and a lower housing 13.
• the image capture module 3 comprises at least one camera 14.
• the image capturing module 3 comprises both 2D cameras and 3D cameras.
• the upper capture means 6 comprises five 2D cameras and five 3D cameras, whereas the lower capture means 7 comprises five 2D cameras and five 3D cameras.
• the upper housing 12 further comprises linear guides 15 for guiding the displacement of a movable support 16 with respect to the lower capture means and with respect to the reel 6 displaced by the displacing means, in the present case the reel being placed on the conveyor belt 5.
• the cameras 14 of the upper capture means 6 are fixed on the moveable support 16.
• the camera 14 fixed on the movable support 16 are oriented toward the reel 8 placed on the conveyor 5.
• the movable support 16 is sliding in the linear guides 15, the distance between the upper face of the reel 8 and the cameras 14 fixed on the movable support 16 varies.
• the device 1 further comprises illumination means 18 for illuminating the reel 8 during image captures.
• the upper capturing means 6 and the lower capturing means 7 are each coupled to a series of LED.
• the position of the moveable support 16 is adjusted according to the width of the reel 8.
• the conveyor belt 5 carries the reel 8 between the upper capture means 6 and the lower capture means 7 to an area named inspection area 19.
• the inspection area corresponds to the field of view of the camera 14.
• the reel 8 Upon arrival in the inspection area 19, the reel 8 activates a first sensor 20.
• This first sensor 20 switches on the illumination means 18 and controls the 2D cameras 14 and 3D cameras 14 of the image capture module 3.
• the cameras 14 begin recording the images.
• the reel 8 deactivates a second sensor 21 , which switches off the illumination means 18 and commands the cameras 14 to finalize image capturing.
• the captured images are transmitted to the analyzing means, in the present case a software.
• the software processes (also called“sews”) the captured images of the cameras 14 to form at least four images, two 2D images (upper and lower surface) and two 3D images (upper and lower surface).
• the software saves the images and tracks these images for abnormalities.
• the software is designed for detecting the following abnormalities: misalignments of both the core and the material, when wound, crushing of the reel, incorrect width along the spool, disproportional diameter, irregular sides, telescopic effect in the winding, undulation when winding, defects such as for example the center of the reel having a smaller diameter than the ends and still contaminations by hair strands among others.
• the software Depending on the presence or the absence of abnormalities in the reel, the software:
• the claimed solution is the only one allowing the detection, measuring and automatic rejection of all the tested abnormalities.
• the claimed invention is capable of detecting and measuring the following abnormalities:
• Table 2 illustrates the rules applied by the present invention, in an embodiment, to detect some abnormalities.
• the reel is considered to have irregular side/coning if the difference between the outer and the inner width is greater than 3 mm. If the analyzing means detect a difference greater than 3 mm for instance, it means the reel 8 has an abnormality,
• the analyzing means detect a difference greater than 3 mm for instance, it means the reel 8 has an abnormality
• there is no a fixed difference it is settable on the software by the user according customers’ requirements for instance.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Quality & Reliability (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
• Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
• Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
• Testing Of Short-Circuits, Discontinuities, Leakage, Or Incorrect Line Connections (AREA)

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• 2019
  • 2019-04-03 EP EP19167111.4A patent/EP3718939B1/en active Active
• 2020
  • 2020-04-02 WO PCT/IB2020/053129 patent/WO2020202050A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2020-04-02 US US17/594,075 patent/US12371301B2/en active Active
  • 2020-04-02 BR BR112021019431A patent/BR112021019431A8/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2020-04-06 TW TW109111518A patent/TWI857041B/zh active

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