Product filling system

Abstract

A product filling system ( 100 ) includes a first multi-lane conveyor ( 106 ) for receiving products and a second multi-lane conveyor ( 110 ) for receiving the products from the first multi-lane conveyor ( 106 ). The first multi-lane conveyor ( 106 ) and the second multi-lane conveyor ( 110 ) include a plurality of independently movable belts controlled by a controller ( 128 ). First and second camera systems ( 108, 112 ) inspect first and second portions of the products on the plurality of belts and judge whether each of the products is defective or not defective.

1 . A product filling system comprising:
 a controller;   a driving device coupled to the controller;   a multi-lane conveyor including a plurality of belts independently movable by the driving device, each of the plurality of belts including product storing means for storing a plurality of products; and   a camera system coupled to the controller, the camera system disposed in proximity to the plurality of belts to inspect each of the plurality of products,   wherein the controller is configured to control the driving device to independently move each of the plurality of belts.   
     
     
         2 . The product filling system of  claim 1 , wherein the driving device includes a plurality of motors respectively coupled to the plurality of belts, wherein the controller is configured to activate or de-activate a particular one of the plurality of motors to independently move each of the plurality of belts. 
     
     
         3 . The product filling system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum pump coupled to the controller for maintaining the products on the belts of the multi-lane conveyor while the camera system performs the inspection, wherein the product storing means includes a plurality of apertures for receiving vacuum from the vacuum pump. 
     
     
         4 . The product filling system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a blow-off device for releasing the products from the plurality of belts; and   a counting sensor coupled to the controller and disposed in proximity to the plurality of belts for counting a number of the products released from the plurality of belts.   
     
     
         5 . The product filling system of  claim 4 , further comprising a verification sensor coupled to the controller and disposed in proximity to a rejection receptacle to verify release of the products by the blow-off device. 
     
     
         6 . The product filling system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 another multi-lane conveyor including a plurality of primary feeding belts independently movable by the driving device, each of the plurality of primary feeding belts including a plurality of holders for storing the plurality of products; and   another camera system coupled to the controller and disposed in proximity to the plurality of primary feeding belts to inspect each of the plurality of products,   wherein the controller is configured to control the driving device to independently move each of the plurality of primary feeding belts.   
     
     
         7 . The product filling system of  claim 6 , wherein the another camera system inspects a first portion of the plurality of products and the camera system inspects a second portion of the plurality of products. 
     
     
         8 . The product filling system of  claim 7 , wherein the another camera system includes a plurality of first cameras disposed to inspect the first portion of the plurality of products in the holders of the plurality of primary feeding belts, and the camera system include a plurality of second cameras disposed to inspect the second portion of the plurality of products on the plurality of transfer belts, wherein the controller is configured to independently control movement of a particular one of the plurality of primary feeding belts and the plurality of transfer belts based upon an inspection performed by its respective one of the plurality of first cameras or the plurality of second cameras. 
     
     
         9 . The product filling system of  claim 7 , wherein the camera system and the another camera system judge whether the product is defective or not defective and count the number of products judged to be defective and the number of products judged to not be defective, wherein the controller is configured to control the driving device to independently move each of the plurality of belts in accordance with the count performed by the camera system and the another camera system. 
     
     
         10 . A product filling system comprising:
 a primary feeding belt having holders for storing products in a state in which a first portion of the products faces in a first direction;   a first camera system configured to inspect the first portion of the products on the primary feeding belt;   a transfer belt for receiving the products from the primary feeding belt, the transfer belt including apertures for storing the products in a state in which a second portion of the products faces in a second direction;   a second camera system configured to inspect the second portion of the products on the transfer belt; and   a controller coupled to the first and second camera systems, the controller configured to independently control the primary feeding belt and the transfer belt.   
     
     
         11 . The product filling system of  claim 10 , further comprising a vacuum pump for providing vacuum to the apertures to maintain the products on the transfer belt while the second camera system inspects the second portion. 
     
     
         12 . The product filling system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a counting sensor coupled to the controller and disposed in proximity to the transfer belt for counting a number of the products removed from the transfer belt,   wherein the controller is configured to independently control the primary feeding belt and the transfer belt based upon the count performed by the counting sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The product filling system of  claim 10 , further comprising a rejection receptacle coupled to the transfer belt for receiving products based upon the inspection performed by one of the first and second camera systems. 
     
     
         14 . The product filling system of  claim 13 , further comprising a verification sensor coupled to the controller and disposed in proximity to the rejection receptacle to verify reception of the products by the rejection receptacle, wherein the controller is configured to independently control the primary feeding belt and the transfer belt based upon the verification performed by the verification sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The product filling system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the primary feeding belt and the transfer belt based upon the inspection performed by the first camera system or the second camera system. 
     
     
         16 . The product filling system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second camera systems judge whether the product is defective or not defective and count the number of products judged to be defective and the number of products judged to not be defective, wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the primary feeding belt and the transfer belt based upon the inspection and the count performed by the first camera system or the second camera system. 
     
     
         17 . A product filling system comprising:
 a belt including storage means for storing the products in a state in which a portion of the products faces in a predetermined direction;   a camera system configured to inspect the portion of the products on the belt and to count the number of inspected products;   a counting sensor disposed in proximity to the belt for counting a number of the products released from the belt; and   a controller configured to control the belt based upon the counting performed by the counting sensor and the camera system.   
     
     
         18 . The product filling system of  claim 17 , further comprising a rejection receptacle for receiving products based upon the inspection performed by the camera system. 
     
     
         19 . The product filling system of  claim 18 , further comprising a verification sensor coupled to the controller and disposed in proximity to the rejection receptacle to verify reception of the products by the rejection receptacle, wherein the controller is further configured to control the belt based upon the verification performed by the verification sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The product filling system of  claim 17 , further comprising a vacuum pump coupled to the controller for maintaining the products on the belt while the first camera system performs the inspection. 
     
     
         21 . The product filling system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to control the belt based upon the inspection performed by the camera system. 
     
     
         22 . A product filling system comprising:
 a first multi-lane conveyor for receiving products, the first multi-lane conveyor including a plurality of independently movable primary feeding belts having holding devices for storing the products in a state in which a first portion of the products faces in a first direction;   a first camera system configured to inspect the first portion of the products on the plurality of primary feeding belts of the first multi-lane conveyor;   a second multi-lane conveyor for receiving the products from the first multi-lane conveyor, the second multi-lane conveyor including a plurality of independently movable transfer belts having apertures for storing the products in a state in which a second portion of the products faces in a second direction;   a second camera system configured to inspect the second portion of the products on the plurality of transfer belts of the second multi-lane conveyor; and   a controller configured to independently control each of the primary feeding belts and the transfer belts.   
     
     
         23 . The product filling system of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second camera systems judge whether each of the products is defective or not defective. 
     
     
         24 . The product filling system of  claim 23 , further comprising a rejection receptacle for receiving products judged to be defective by one of the first camera system and the second camera system. 
     
     
         25 . The product filling system of  claim 22 , wherein the second camera system is further configured to count the products judged to be not defective for each of the transfer belts, and the controller is further configured to suspend movement of one of the transfer belts when the second camera system has counted a predetermined number of products judged to be not defective for the one of the transfer belts. 
     
     
         26 . A method of inspecting products and distributing inspected products into containers, the method comprising:
 distributing the products on a first multi-lane conveyor including a plurality of independently controlled primary feeding belts in a state in which a first portion of the products faces in a first direction;   inspecting the first portion of the products to judge if the products are defective or not defective;   distributing the products on a second multi-lane conveyor including a plurality of independently controlled transfer belts in a state in which a second portion of the products faces in a second direction;   inspecting the second portion of the products to judge if the products are defective or not defective; and   filling the containers with the products judged to be not defective based upon the inspecting of the first portion and based upon the inspecting of the second portion.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising counting a number of the products judged to be defective or not defective. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , depositing products judged to be defective in a rejection receptacle. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising verifying that a number of the products deposited in the rejection receptacle is equal to the number of products judged to be defective.