IP Library Granted Patent US 6,937,339
Granted Patent B2
US 6,937,339 · App. 10/092,897 · Granted Aug 30, 2005

Inspection device and system for inspecting foreign matters in a liquid filled transparent container

Assignee: Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,937,339
App. No.
10/092,897
Granted
Aug 30, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an inspection device for inspecting for possible foreign matters contaminating a liquid filled transparent container, a red color illumination unit 23 A is disposed behind a glass container 22 filled with liquid and a pair of blue color illumination units 23 B and 23 C are disposed so as to sandwich the red color illumination unit 23 A. Both the red color and blue color illumination units 23 A, 23 B and 23 C are disposed so that the red color light transmits through the glass container 22 and the blue color light reflected by a possible foreign matter in the liquid merges with the red color transmission light. Both the transmission light and the reflection light are separated by a color separation mirror 4 and are imaged by CCD cameras 5 and 6 so as to detect both black color series and white color series foreign matters can be detected at the same time.

Claims (17)

1. A foreign matter inspection device for inspecting foreign matters in a liquid filled transparent container comprising:

a first irradiation light source which is disposed behind the transparent container and irradiates a first irradiation light to the transparent container;

a second irradiation light source which is disposed adjacent to the first irradiation light source and irradiates a second irradiation light of a different color from that of the first irradiation light from a different direction from that of the first irradiation light to the transparent container;

a color separation mirror which is disposed on a transmission light optical path of the first irradiation light from the transparent container as well as on a reflection light optical path of the second irradiation light from the transparent container, and which causes to advance in straight optical path the transmission light of the first irradiation light and performs color separation of the reflection light of the second irradiation light and guides the same in another optical path than that of the transmission light;

a first imaging means which is disposed on the straight advancing optical path and images the transmission light of the first irradiation light;

a second imaging means which is disposed on the another optical path and images the reflection light of the second irradiation light; and

an image processing means which image processes picture images taken by the first and second imaging means and detects foreign matters in the liquid filled container.

2. A foreign matter inspection device for inspecting foreign matters in a liquid filled transparent container comprising:

a first irradiation light source which is disposed behind the transparent container and irradiates a first irradiation light to the transparent container;

a second irradiation light source which is disposed adjacent to the first irradiation light source and irradiates a second irradiation light of a different color from that of the first irradiation light from a different direction from that of the first irradiation light to the transparent container;

a half mirror which is disposed on a transmission light optical path of the first irradiation light from the transparent container as well as on a reflection light optical path of the second irradiation light from the transparent container and performs optical path separation;

a first filter which is disposed on a straight advancing optical path of the half mirror and selects the transmission light from the first irradiation light;

a first imaging means which images the transmission light of the first irradiation light selected by the first filter;

a second filter which is disposed on another optical path of the half mirror and selects the reflection light of the second irradiation light;

a second imaging means which images the reflection light of the second irradiation light selected by the second filter; and

an image processing means which image processes picture images taken by the first and second imaging means and detects foreign matters in the liquid filled container.

3. A foreign matter inspection device for inspecting foreign matters in a liquid filled transparent container according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second irradiation lights from the first and second irradiation light sources are guided through a light guide device.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Nov 17, 2014
From: HITACHI INFORMATON & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
To: HITACHI INDUSTRY & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 034248/0077 →
CORRECTION TO REEL AND FRAME 018323/0519 Recorded Mar 22, 2007
From: HITACHI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
To: HITACHI INFORMATION & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 019094/0515 →
RECORDATIN TO CORRECT CEO NAME AND ADDRESS IN THE CHANGE OF NAME CORRESPONDENCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2006 AT REEL 018323, FRAME 0519 Recorded Nov 7, 2006
From: HITACHI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
To: HITACHI INFORMATION & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 018490/0538 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 27, 2006
From: HITACHI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
To: HITACHI INFORMATION & CONTROL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 018323/0519 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2004
From: YAMAZAKI, HIROMI; KATANE, TADAHIRO; FUKUDA, HIROHISA; ASANO, KUNITAKA; MATSUSHIMA, MITSUHIRO
To: HITACHI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015444/0942 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2001-071642 · Mar 14, 2001 · national
JP 2001-301981 · Sep 28, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20020171054A1 · Nov 21, 2002