Method and system for inspecting packages

• Main Authors: JAMES EBEL, PETER W. SITES, MICHAEL FRANCIS WIDMAN, PEYMAN H. DEHKORDI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.12.1995
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: CONVEYING; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGINGARTICLES OR MATERIALS; MEASURING; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; STORING; TESTING; TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES ORSTRUCTURES; TESTING STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRANSPORTING; UNPACKING

A method and system for verifying the presence of a lens in a transparent package. The method comprises the steps of moving the package into an inspection position, and conducting a light beam through the package and onto an image plane to form an image of the package on the image plane. The method further comprises the steps of generating a set of signals representing the image on the image plane, and analyzing those signals to determine whether a lens is present in the package. This analyzing step, in turn, includes the steps of searching the package image for images of discrete objects; and for each object image found in the package image, identifying values for a plurality of parameters, and analyzing those identified values according to a predetermined procedure to identify the object as a lens or as not a lens. A lens present signal is generated if one object image found in the package image is identified as a lens; and a lens missing signal is generated if no object images are found in the package image, or if all object images found in the package image are identified as not lenses.