The automated inspection method of paper cups by using a deep learning classifier is proposed. Unlike conventional inspection methods requiring defect detection, feature extraction, and classification stages, the proposed method gives a unified inspection approach where three separate stages are replaced by one deep-learning model. The images of paper cups are grabbed using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera and diffused LED lights. The defect patches are extracted from the gathered images and then augmented to be trained by the deep- learning classifier. The random rotation, width and height shift, horizontal and vertical flip, shearing, and zooming are used as data augmentation. Negative patches are randomly extracted and augmented from gathered images. The VGG (Visual Geometry Group)-like classifier is used as our deep-learning classifier and has five convolutional layers and max-pooling layers for every two convolutional layers. The drop-outs are adopted to prevent overfitting. In the paper, we have tested four kinds of defects and nondefects. The optimal classifier model was obtained from train and validation data and the model shows 96.5% accuracy for test data. The results conclude that the proposed method is an effective and promising approach for paper cup inspection.

Precise installation of a seam clamp is crucial as failure to do so will lead to defects, compromising the quality of paper containers. Even experts spend 90-120 minutes, which comprises 4.7 percent -6.25 percent of the replacement and adjustment process on a paper container manufacturing machine. To overcome an undesirable replacement procedure, a composite seam clamp was devised. The objective of this paper is to enhance the quality of a seam of a paper container and reduce time replacing seam clamps. The composite seam clamp was designed based on the Guerin process. Silicon rubber, which can be used in the temperature range of the paper container manufacturing process (110-130℃), was selected. To validate performance of the steel and composite seam clamp, 13 error situations resulted from translation and rotating misalignment of seam clamps were set and simulated. Through FEM (Finite Element Method) simulation, this paper confirms that the composite seam clamp shows higher transmission of clamping pressure compared to steel seam clamps in error situations. The feasibility of the composite seam clamp was validated in reducing replacement time of seam clamps through on-site tests.