Isaac W Martin

US Patent:

20150257437, Sep 17, 2015

Filed:

Mar 11, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/204316

Inventors:

- Winston-Salem NC, US
Derwin Hiatt - Walnut Cove NC, US
Larry McCann - King NC, US
Mike Shockley - Tobaccoville NC, US
Eddie Nuckols - Mocksville NC, US
David R. Hall - Kernersville NC, US
Frank Brantley - Winston-Salem NC, US
Isaac Martin - Lewisville NC, US
Martin Sama - Tobaccoville NC, US
Charles Reddell - Mount Airy NC, US
Mike Whitley - Winston-Salem NC, US

Assignee:

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A24C 5/34
G06T 7/00
H04N 7/18

Abstract:

Smoking article inspection systems configured to inspect smoking articles are provided. The systems may include imaging devices configured to capture images of an exterior of the smoking article and an analysis unit configured to analyze the images captured by the imaging devices. The analysis unit may execute an edge detection tool configured to determine a position of the smoking article based on an edge location of the smoking article and a defect detection tool configured to determine whether the smoking article is defective after the position of the smoking article is determined. The imaging devices may be configured to capture images of the smoking articles during the assembly thereof. Thereby, the analysis unit may determine any operations during assembly causing damage to the smoking article from analysis of the images of the smoking article captured during assembly. Related methods are also provided.