Vision inspection of complex image shapes frequently requires the use of more than one camera. However some novel lens designs that go under an umbrella description of 360? view optics have been introduced to allow viewing of every surface of an object with as few cameras as possible. Here the top and side views of an object or the bottom and inside views of an object with a hole in it, or multiple side views of an object can be captured in a single image. Applications come from a variety of market areas, such as the beverage, pharmaceutical and automotive industries.
Cylindrical objects such as bottles, jars, batteries, bolts etc. can be imaged using special pericentric lenses. The specific path of the light rays through the lens means that light from the part of the object closest to the lens is imaged in the centre of the camera sensor while light from further away is imaged further out on the detector. This means that a single image can show detail from the top and the sides of the object simultaneously. Common applications in the beverage and pharmaceutical industries include bottle neck thread vision inspection, and data matrix code reading – the code will always be correctly imaged no matter which direction it is facing. The smaller the object diameter, the larger the object height which can be inspected, while thin objects can be inspected over a larger diameter. For small objects (down to 7.5 mm diameter) catadioptric lenses are available. This lens design results in the sides of the object being inspected being observed over a wide viewing angle, approaching 45° at its maximum, which makes it possible to inspect complex object geometries under a convenient perspective
KEY ADVANTAGES
- 360° imaging of small objects: Parts down to 7.5 mm in diameter can be imaged
- Extra wide lateral viewing angle: Object sides viewing angle approaches 45°
- Compactness: The lens can be easily held and integrated in any system
- Perfect chromatic correction: For RGB camera applications and color inspection
- Detects misprints: Identifies excess text/characters, missing text/characters
- Clear images: Creates seamless and undistorted images of label
- Flexibility: Easy integration with a robotic arm, case packer and print solutions
- Cost effective: Eliminates complex and expensive mechanical spin parts
- Efficiency: Offers a faster and less expensive solution than line scan cameras.
