Technical Field

This invention relates to a system that determines whether the level of looseness and grain structure of leather cut pieces used in products produced using 100 % natural leather is in accordance with the customer standards and VDA standards.

Prior Art

At the present, the looseness and grain structure level of leather cut pieces is checked by the operator with the "Half Pipe Test" according to customer standards (VDA 230 - 205), and acceptable or unacceptable conditions are determined. However, this testing methodology is quite dependent on human eye attention. In addition, testing all cut pieces expeditiously creates the need for extra labor and equipment.

In the patent application document number EP 1386010 B1 , which is in prior art, the process of processing animal skins to produce leather is mentioned. In the relevant document, there is no mention of a structure that provides determining whether the looseness and grain structure level of the leather cut pieces comply with the customer and VDA standards.

Therefore, the inadequacy of the existing solutions to meet the requirements described above made it necessary to make an improvement in the related technical field.

Purpose of the Invention

The invention is inspired by the present situations and aims to solve the drawbacks described above.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a system that determines whether the level of looseness and grain structure of leather cut pieces used in products produced using 100 % natural leather is in accordance with the customer standards and VDA standards The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be understood more clearly by means of the figures provided below and the detailed explanation written with reference to these figures. Therefore, the evaluation should be made by taking these figures and detailed explanation into account.

Figures to Help Understanding the Invention

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the system, which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the conveyor belt, primary roller, secondary roller and imaging device elements in the system, which is the subject of the invention.

Description of Part References

1 . System

2. Imaging device

3. Conveyor belt

4. Primary roller

5. Motor

6. Secondary roller

7. Electrical panel

8. Light cabinet

9. Vacuum cabinet and turbine system

10. Control unit

11. Warning lamp

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed explanation, preferred configurations of the system (1), which is the subject of the invention, are explained only for the purpose of better understanding the subject.

This invention relates to a system (1) that determines whether the level of looseness and grain structure of leather cut pieces used in products produced using 100 % natural leather is in accordance with the customer standards and VDA standards The system (1) is subject of the invention characterized by comprising (Figure 1 and Figure 2);

❖ an imaging device (2), such as a camera, image sensor, dimensional laser profile sensor, etc. that performs image processing,

❖ a conveyor belt (3) which has air permeability to providing the stability of the cut leather pieces placed on it,

❖ primary rollers (4) which are required for the movement of the conveyor belt (3),

❖ driver controlled reducer motor (5) which provides for the movement, speed and control of the conveyor belt (3),

❖ secondary rollers (6) that are used to form the radius zone in accordance with control standards, and

❖ an electrical panel that houses PLC, Encoder and Electrical/Electronic equipments for the control of mechanical and electronical system movements (7)

❖ a light cabinet (8) which is made as closed structure so that the imaging device (2) is not affected by external lighting, has DIMMABLE LED lighting equipment that are needed for the imaging device (2) to process images under appropriate light,

❖ a vacuum cabinet and turbine system (9) that is used to ensure the stability of the cut leather pieces without moving by taking the form of radius during the imaging device (2) control while the cut leather pieces pass through the radius area,

❖ a control unit (10) connected to the imaging device (2) externally or internally, which provides the conformity determination of the leather cut pieces according to the images in the imaging device (2), and

❖ a warning lamp (11) that issues light and sound alert after the detection of unsuitable cut leather pieces by the control unit (10).

The system (1) provides that the cut leather pieces are transferred to the control zone by means of the air permeable conveyor belt (3) and the adjustable secondary rollers with radius (6) and that the cut leather pieces take the suitable form according to the standards, so that the control can be made. The secondary rollers (6) have the equipment that gives the necessary form to make adjustment and have a radius and adjustable structure.

The imaging device (2) instantly processes the image of the cut leather pieces coming to the control area and transfers it to the software in the control unit (10). The software in the control unit (10) processes the image from the imaging device (2) and decides whether it is suitable according to the criteria of conformity.

Electrical panel (7) stops or resumes operation of the system (1) based on command from the control unit (10).

In the operation structure of the system (1), the cut leather pieces are first placed on the air permeable conveyor belt (3). The driver - controlled reducer motor (5) transmits the movement to the primary rollers (4) according to the command it receives from the electrical panel (7), drives the movement of the air permeable conveyor belt (3).

The vacuum cabinet and turbine system (9) create vacuum under the air permeable conveyor belt (3) and provides that the leather cut piece remains stable from the system (1) inlet to the outlet by movement from the primary rollers (4) and takes the appropriate control form according to the standards in the control zone by means of adjustable secondary rollers with radius (6).

The leather cut pieces that comes to the control zone inside the LED illuminated light cabinet (8) takes the control form in accordance with the standards, then the imaging device (2) processes the image instantaneously and transmits the processed image to the software located in the control unit (10).

The control unit (10) has software that contains the visual conformity criteria set by the VDA. The inspection unit (10) examines images processed by the imaging device (2). After this examination, the control unit (10) checks the sensitivity and stability of the process and determines the results. The control unit (10) also provides an increase in the error detection rate, ease of control, reduction of unit control time, reduction of equipment and inspector requirement as a result of the operations it performs.

The software in the control unit (10) compares the image processed on the imaging device (2) according to the defined conformity criteria and decides whether the leather cut pieces are suitable for the level of looseness and grain structure.

If the software in the control unit (10) decides whether the leather cut pieces are suitable for the level of looseness and grain structure, the control unit (10) instructs the electrical panel (7) to continue the operation of the air permeable conveyor belt (3) and the control process continues using the same methods for the next pieces of cut leather. If the software in the control unit (10) does not decide whether the leather cut pieces are suitable for the level of looseness and grain structure, the control unit (10) instructs the electrical panel (7) to stop the operation of the air permeable conveyor belt (3). At this instant, the control unit (10) creates an alert on its own screen and stops the control process by creating an alert with the warning light (11). This way, it is provided that the leather cut parts that are not suitable in terms of looseness and grain structure level are detected automatically.