Patents by Inventor Donato Laico

Donato Laico has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230204518
    Abstract: A method for inspecting an incision made on a lateral surface of a plastic cap includes the following steps: conveying the plastic cap along an inspection path through an inspection zone in which the cap is inspected; emitting a polarized light collimated along a light orientation towards the inspection zone; capturing image data representing at least one image of the lateral surface of the cap through an optical sensor; receiving the image data in a control unit; processing the image data to derive information about the incision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Massimo BALDUCCI, Donato LAICO
  • Publication number: 20230120081
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for the inspection of parisons (2) comprises: an inspection zone (10), configured to receive an unordered plurality of parisons (2); an illuminator (3), configured to emit a beam of light directed at the plurality of parisons (2); a detector (4) comprising a camera (41) configured to capture an image of the plurality of parisons (2), wherein the inspection zone is interposed between the illuminator (3) and the detector (4); a control unit (5) configured to process the image captured by the camera (41) to derive an item of diagnostic information regarding the defectiveness of one or more parisons (2) of the plurality of parisons (2), wherein the illuminator (3) includes an emission-polarizing filter (32) and the detector (4) includes a receiving polarizing filter (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Donato LAICO, Cristian SCALINI
  • Publication number: 20220307989
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) and a method for optical inspection of parisons (2) made of thermoplastic material comprises: a conveyor (3) comprising a pair of lateral, under-flange guides 31A for holding each parison by its flange, and configured to transport the parisons (2) in succession along an inspection path; an inspection station (41, 42, 43, 51, 52), located along the inspection path and including at least one inspection camera (410, 411, 412, 413, 421, 431, 510, 511, 520, 521, 522), configured to capture image data of a parison (2) positioned in the inspection station (41, 42, 43, 51, 52), wherein the conveyor (3) has a first operating configuration for transporting parisons (2) of a first size and a second operating configuration for transporting parisons (2) of a second size, different from the first size, the conveyor (3) including at least one adjustment actuator (7), configured to move the conveyor (3) between the first and the second operating configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: DONATO LAICO, MANUEL GIORGI
  • Publication number: 20220048237
    Abstract: A device (1) for optical inspection of parisons (2) comprises: an illuminator (3) configured to emit a beam of light directed at a parison (2) located at an inspection position (10); a detector (4) configured to capture an image (10) of the parison (2) interposed between the illuminator (3) and the detector (4), where the illuminator (3) includes an emission-polarizing filter (32) configured to generate a polarized light beam, and where the detector (4) includes a receiving polarizing filter (41) configured to receive the polarized light beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Donato LAICO, Simone NIGRO
  • Patent number: 10234399
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for optical inspection of plastic parisons (2) intended to be blow molded to form containers, comprises a conveyor (3) for transporting corresponding parisons (2) along a predetermined path; at an inspection station along the path, each parison (2) is positioned with its axis (208) aligned with a longitudinal reference axis. A stationary camera (7) is provided, with its viewing axis (8) coincident with the longitudinal reference axis, to view the interior of the parison (2); an illuminator (9) is positioned around the viewing axis (8) of the camera (7), to irradiate the outside surface of a mouth end (202) of the parison (2). The camera (7) has a wide-angle lens, to capture an image of an inside surface of the mouth end (202) of the parison (2), representing a screw thread (205) and the identification code (207) of the parison (2), shown in transparency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA
    Inventor: Donato Laico
  • Publication number: 20180088058
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for optical inspection of parisons (2) intended to be blow moulded to form containers, where the parisons (2) are made of plastic material and have a side wall (201), a closing bottom and a mouth end (202) having on its outside surface a screw thread (205) and an identification code (207) in relief, comprises: a conveyor (3) equipped with a plurality of receiving elements (4) configured to transport corresponding parisons (2) along a predetermined path where, in an inspection station located along the predetermined path, each parison (2) is positioned with its axis (208) aligned with a longitudinal reference axis; a stationary camera (7) mounted in such a way that its viewing axis (8) coincides with the longitudinal reference axis in order to see the interior of the parison (2); an illuminator (9) positioned around the viewing axis (8) of the camera (7) in order to irradiate the outside surface of the mouth end (202) of the parison (2) positioned in the inspection station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventor: DONATO LAICO
  • Patent number: 8254659
    Abstract: A method comprises projecting a light and shade pattern defined by preset optic parameters through a body, detecting an image of the light and shade pattern through the body to obtain a detected image, processing the detected image to highlight any irregularities of the light and shade pattern in the detected image; an apparatus comprises a light-source for projecting a light and shade pattern defined by preset optic parameters through a body, an image-detecting device for detecting an image of the light and shade pattern through the body to obtain a detected image and a processing device for processing the detected image in such a way as to highlight any irregularities of the light and shade pattern in the detected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imolasocieta Cooperativa
    Inventors: Sanzio Caroli, Donato Laico
  • Publication number: 20080310701
    Abstract: A method comprises projecting a light and shade pattern defined by preset optic parameters through a body, detecting an image of the light and shade pattern through the body to obtain a detected image, processing the detected image to highlight any irregularities of the light and shade pattern in the detected image; an apparatus comprises a light-source for projecting a light and shade pattern defined by preset optic parameters through a body, an image-detecting device for detecting an image of the light and shade pattern through the body to obtain a detected image and a processing device for processing the detected image in such a way as to highlight any irregularities of the light and shade pattern in the detected image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: SACMI COOPERATIVE MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA'
    Inventors: Sanzio Caroli, Donato Laico