Object inspection system and method for inspecting an object

Abstract

An object inspection system 10 and a method for detecting defects which utilizes a plurality of cameras 26 and lights 18 to capture images of a portion of an object 14 and which uses the captured images to determine the presence of a defect upon a surface, such as surface 12, of the object 14 and which may communicated the location of the identified defect to an automated defect repair assembly 9.

What Is Claimed Is: 
     
         1 ) An object inspection system comprising at least one light which has a fixed position; at least one camera which is in communication with the at least one light and which has a second fixed position; and a processing assembly which detects the location of the object, which selectively activates the light, which captures an image of at least a portion of the object from the at least one camera as the object is moving, and which utilizes the captured image to detect the presence of a defect upon the surface of the object. 
     
     
         2 ) The object inspection system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one tracking camera which provides the location of said object to said processing assembly. 
     
     
         3 ) The object inspection system of  claim 1  further comprising a laser sensor which provides the location of said object to said processing assembly. 
     
     
         4 ) The object inspection system of  claim 1  wherein said processing assembly comprises an archival server which is effective to store said image of at least a portion of said object. 
     
     
         5 ) The object inspection system of  claim 4  wherein said processing assembly further comprises an image capture server which receives said image of said at least a portion of said object and which is communication with said archival server. 
     
     
         6 ) The object inspection system of  claim 5  wherein said processing assembly further comprises an image processing server which is coupled to said image capture server and which processes said received image of said at least a portion of said object effective to identity an object defect. 
     
     
         7 ) The object inspection system of  claim 6  wherein said processing assembly further comprises a tracking server which detects the location of said object and which further includes a trigger table which is effective to said light and said at least one camera to be respectively activated in order to allow said at least one camera to acquire said image. 
     
     
         8 ) The object inspection system of  claim 7  further comprising at least one output monitor which is coupled to said archival server. 
     
     
         9 ) The object inspection system of  claim 8  wherein said object defect is identified by the use of dark spots appearing within said image. 
     
     
         10 ) The object inspection system of  claim 8  wherein said object defect is identified by the use of bright spots appearing within said image. 
     
     
         11 ) The method for detecting the presence of a defect upon the surface of an object comprising the steps of acquiring an image of at least a portion of the object as the object is moving; and using the acquired image to determine the presence of a defect upon the surface of the object. 
     
     
         12 ) The method of  claim 11  wherein said step of using the acquired image to determine the presence of a defect upon the surface of said object comprises the step of locating bright spots within said image. 
     
     
         13 ) The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of using the acquired image to determine the presence of a defect upon the surface of said object further comprises the step of locating dark spots within said image. 
     
     
         14 ) The method of  claim 13  wherein said step of using the acquired image to determine the presence of a defect upon the surface of said object further comprises the step of forming clusters of bright spots and dark spots. 
     
     
         15 ) The method of  claim 14  further comprising placing an image of said identified defect upon an image of said object and at an object location in which said defect was identified upon said object. 
     
     
         16 ) The method for detecting and correcting a defect upon the surface of an object comprising the steps of acquiring at least one image of an object; using the acquired at least one image of said object to determine the location of a defect upon the surface of said object; communicating the presence of said identified defect to automated defect correction assembly; and correcting said defect by use of said automated defect correction assembly. 
     
     
         17 ) The method of  claim 16  wherein said correction assembly comprises a robot. 
     
     
         18 ) The method of  claim 16  wherein said step of using the acquired at least one image of said object to determine the location of said defect includes the steps of identifying a bright spot and a dark spot within said image; and forming a cluster of said identified bright spot and said identified dark spot. 
     
     
         19 ) The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of placing an image of said identified defect upon an image of said object. 
     
     
         20 ) The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of tracking the location of said object as said object moves.