Patent Abstract:
A detecting system for checking shapes, sizes, and/or positions of products, includes a feeding module configured to transfer the products into the detecting system, a detecting module configured to detect the products, a discharging module configured to remove the products out of the detection system, a conveying module configured to transport the products, a data processing module configured to deal with the data information measured by the detecting module, and an electronic control module configured to control the feeding module, the detecting module, the discharging module, the conveying module, and the data processing module. The detecting module includes a first detection module configured to get size and position images of the products, and a second detecting unit configured to detect a gap between two planes of the products. The present disclosure also discloses a detecting method for products.

Full Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to detecting systems and methods for detecting products, and particularly to a system and method for detecting shapes, sizes, and/or positions of products. 
     BACKGROUND 
     On an assembly line, products need to be checked regularly for constancy, shapes, sizes and/or positions. Typically, the checking procedure is done manually by workmen using simple tools. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a structural diagram of an embodiment of a detecting system. 
         FIG. 2  is a structural diagram of the feeding module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a structural diagram of the detecting module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a structural diagram of the discharging module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a structural diagram of the conveying module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a process for an operation method of the detecting system for products. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising”, when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
     The present disclosure is described in relation to a detecting system and an operation method of the detecting system for products. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a structural diagram of a detecting system. The detecting system  100  can include a feeding module  10 , a detecting module  20 , a discharging module  30 ; a conveying module  40 , a data processing module  50 , and a control module  60 . The feeding module  10  can be configured to supply the detecting system  100  with a plurality of products  200 . The detecting module  20  can be configured to detect shapes, sizes and/or positions of the products  200 . The discharging module  30  can be configured to remove the finished products  200  from the detecting system  100 . The conveying module  40  can be configured to transport the products  200  from the feeding module  10  to the detecting module  20 , or from the detecting module  20  to the discharging module  30 . 
     The data processing module  50  can be electrically connected to the detecting module  20 . The data processing module  50  can collect data information measured by the detecting module  20 , and determine whether the products  200  are qualified or not according to the data information. The data processing module  50  can include a display configured to show a diagram of product  200  numbers and quality information corresponding to the product  200  numbers. A workman can achieve the quality information of products  200  by looking at the display. In at least one embodiment, an alarm (not shown) can be electrically connected to the data processing module  50 , when the data processing module  50  picks up an unqualified product  200 , the alarm sounds, warning the workman of the unqualified product  200 . 
     The feeding module  10 , the detecting module  20 , the discharging module  30 , the conveying module  40 , and the data processing module  50  can be electrically connected to, and controlled by the control module  60 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a structural diagram of the feeding module  10  of the detecting system. The feeding module  10  can include a feeding portion  11 , a first station  12  opposite to the feeding portion  11 , a first slide  13  positioned between the feeding portion  11  and the first station  12 , and a first sliding member  14  coupled to the first slide  13 . The first sliding member  14  can move between the feeding portion  11  and the first station  12 . When the first sliding member  14  is positioned on the feeding portion  11 , and the products  200  to be detected can be loaded into the first sliding member  14 . The first sliding member  14  can convey the products  200  from the feeding portion  11  to the first station  12 . Then the first sliding member  14  can return to the feeding portion  11 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a structural diagram of the detecting module  20  of the detecting system. The detecting module  20  can include a first detecting unit  21  corresponding to the first station  12  (see in  FIG. 2 ), a second detecting unit  22 , and a second station  23  corresponding to the second detecting unit  22 . The first detecting unit  21  can include a charge-coupled device (CCD) configured to get size and position images of the products  200 . 
     The second detecting unit  22  can include a measurement probe configured to detect a height difference between two planes  201  and  202  of the products  200 . In the illustrated embodiment, a product  200  can be detected by the first detecting unit  21  first, then the product  200  can be transported from the first station  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) to the second station  23  by the conveying module  40  (see  FIG. 1 ), and detected by the second detecting unit  22 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a structural diagram of the discharging module  30  of the detecting system. A function of the discharging module  30  can be opposite to a function of the feeding module  10 . The discharging module  30  can include an entrance  31  configured to receive the finished products  200  from the detecting module  20 , an exit  32  opposite to the entrance  31 , a second slide  33  connected between the entrance  31  and the exit  32 ; and a second sliding member  34  coupled to the second slide  33 . The second sliding member  34  can move between the entrance  31  and the exit  32 . When the second sliding member  34  moves to the entrance  31 , the second sliding member  34  can receive a product  200 , and drive the product  200  to the exit  32 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a structural diagram of the conveying module  40 . The conveying module  40  can include a third slide  41 , and a clamping assembly  42  coupled to the third slide  41 . The clamping assembly  42  can be configured to clamp the products  200 , and include a first clamping jaw  421  and a second clamping jaw  422  coupled to the first clamping jaw  421 . The first clamping jaw  421  can be move between the first station  12  and the second station  23 . The second clamping jaw  422  can move between the second station  23  and the entrance  31  of the discharging module  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first clamping jaw  421  and the second clamping jaw  422  can be linked together. When the first clamping jaw  421  is positioned at the first station  12 , the second clamping jaw  422  can be positioned at the second station  23 . When the first clamping jaw  421  moves to the second station  23 , the second clamping jaw  422  can move to the entrance  31  of the discharging module  30 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a method for using the detecting system  100 , which can include the following. 
     In block  101 , the first sliding member  14  can be positioned at the feeding portion  11 , and a product  200  can be inputted into the first sliding member  14  by workmen. 
     In block  102 , the first sliding member  14  can drive the product  200  to the first station  12 . 
     In block  103 , the first detecting unit  21  can get image information about plane dimension and plane position of the product  200 , and the image information can be transmitted to the data processing module  50 . 
     In block  104 , the product  200  can be transported from the first station  12  to the second station  23  by the first clamping jaw  421  of the conveying module  40 . 
     In block  105 , the second detecting unit  22  can detect a height difference between two planes  201  and  202  of the product  200 , and the height difference can be transmitted to the data processing module  50 . 
     In block  106 , the product  200  can be transported from the second station  23  to the entrance  31  by the second clamping jaw  422  of the conveying module  40 . 
     In block  107 , the second sliding member  34  can be positioned at the entrance  31 , receive the product  200  from the second clamping jaw  422 , and transport the product  200  from the entrance  31  to the exit  32 . 
     In block  108 , the data processing module  50  can analyze the image information and the height difference between two planes  201  and  202  of the product  200 , and determine whether the product  200  is qualified. 
     In use, a first product can be positioned at the first station  12  and detected by the first detecting unit  21 . At the same time, a second product  200  can be ready to enter into the detecting system  100 . When the first product  200  is transported from the first station  12  to the second station  23  by the first clamping jaw  421  of the conveying module  40 , the second product  200  can be driven to the first station  12  by the first sliding member  14 . Then the first product  200  can be detected by the second detecting unit  22 , and the second product  200  can be detected by the first detecting unit  21 . The first product  200  can be transported from the second station  23  to the entrance  31  by the first clamping jaw  422  of the conveying module  40 . Meanwhile, the second product  200  can be transported from the first station  12  to the second station  23  by the first clamping jaw  421  of the conveying module  40 . The second sliding member  34  drives the first product  200  to the exit  32 , and the second product  200  can be detected by the second detecting unit  22 . 
     The detecting system  100  can automatically detect a plurality of products  200 . Compared with the manual vision inspection (MVI), the detecting system  100  can enhance the efficiency of detecting products  200 . 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a detecting system and a detecting method for products. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the details, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6