METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DEFECTS AND EMBEDDED OBJECTS IN SEALED STERILIZED PACKAGING

摘要

An inspection station identifies defects such as artifacts (e.g., dust, hair, particles) in the sealing areas of sealed sterile packages. A multi-head optical scanner can include at least two fiber optic sensors each comprised of a bundle of optical fibers arranged into a linear face coupled to an image processing module and oriented towards a scanning area of sealed packages moving through a conveyance system. An image processing module can analyze input from the at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements to identify artifacts in the sealing areas of the sealed packages.

主权项

1. An inspection station for optically inspecting sealed packages to identify artifacts in sealing areas of the sealed packages, comprising:
a multi-head optical scanner including at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements each deployed in an x and y rows and each comprising more than one optical fiber from a bundle of optical fibers, wherein each of the at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements are oriented towards an inspection area to capture the surface of sealed packages moving through a conveyance system; an image processing module analyzing input from the at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements to identify and locate artifacts in the sealing areas of the sealed packages.