Systems and methods for inspection and defect detection

Abstract

A method of inspecting an article with a defect detection tool includes receiving one or more articles at an inspection station and inspecting one of the received one or more articles at the inspection station by evaluating the article for at least one physical defect with the defect detection tool. The defect detection tool includes a clear body including a surface element sized to correspond to the at least one physical defect in the article, the surface element including at least one of a linear element or a circular element and an inspection surface configured to contact a surface of the article when the clear body is applied to the article. Evaluating the article for at least one physical defect with the defect detection tool includes applying the defect detection tool against the article to align the surface element with a potential physical defect in the surface of the article and determining that the at least one physical defect is present when the potential physical defect has a size equal to or larger than a size of the linear element or a size of the circular element.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for detecting whether a physical defect exists in an article distributed through a system for providing a plurality of articles as a service, the method comprising:
 receiving the article from a user who temporarily used the article;   reading an identifier affixed to the received article to access an electronic record corresponding to the received article, the electronic record being stored in one or more databases;   inspecting a surface of the received article using a defect inspection tool to determine whether the physical defect exists on the received article;   updating the electronic record with information corresponding to whether the physical defect exists in the article; and   routing the received article to a secondary inspection station, an additional processing area, a retirement staging area, or a transfer station based on whether the physical defect exists in the article.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the physical defect comprises physical wear, at least one missing part, or at least one damaged component. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising:
 determining at least one inspection standard corresponding to an inspection area of the article.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein the inspecting is based on at least one inspection criterion corresponding to the at least one inspection standard. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , wherein the article includes a plurality of areas, wherein each of the at least one inspection standard corresponds to a different area of the plurality of areas, the plurality of areas including at least a front of the article and a rear of the article. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , the inspecting further comprising:
 placing an inspection surface of the defect inspection tool on the article; and   comparing a size of a potential snag defect of the article or a potential pilling defect of the article to a surface element size.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , the inspecting further comprising:
 determining that the article fails the inspecting based on the comparing; and   in response to the determining, updating an inspection history corresponding to the electronic record to indicate a failed inspection, the failed inspection corresponding to at least one of: a presence of a textile snag defect or a textile pilling defect.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the identifier includes at least one of: a source, a category, a style, a color, a size, or a serial number. 
     
     
         29 . A computer-implemented method for detecting whether a physical defect exists in an article distributed through a system for providing a plurality of articles as a service, the method comprising:
 receiving the article from a user who temporarily used the article;   reading an identifier affixed to the received article to access one or more databases corresponding to the received article;   inspecting a surface of the received article using a defect inspection tool to determine whether the physical defect exists on the received article; and   updating the one or more databases with information corresponding to whether the physical defect exists in the article.   
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , the method further comprising:
 routing the received article to a secondary inspection station, an additional processing area, a retirement staging area, or a transfer station based on whether the physical defect exists in the article.   
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , the inspecting further comprising:
 placing an inspection surface of the defect inspection tool on the article; and   comparing a size of a potential snag defect of the article or a potential pilling defect of the article to a surface element size.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , the inspecting further comprising:
 determining that the article fails the inspecting based on the comparing; and   in response to the determining, updating an inspection history corresponding to the one or more databases to indicate a failed inspection, the failed inspection corresponding to at least one of: a presence of a textile snag defect or a textile pilling defect.   
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , wherein the physical defect comprises physical wear, at least one missing part, or at least one damaged component. 
     
     
         34 . A computer system for detecting whether a physical defect exists in an article distributed through a system for providing a plurality of articles as a service, comprising:
 a memory storing instructions; and   one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to perform operations including:
 receiving the article from a user who temporarily used the article; 
 reading an identifier affixed to the received article to access an electronic record corresponding to the received article, the electronic record being stored in one or more databases; 
 updating the electronic record with information corresponding to whether the physical defect exists in the article; and 
 routing the received article to a secondary inspection station, an additional processing area, a retirement staging area, or a transfer station based on whether the physical defect exists in the article. 
   
     
     
         35 . The computer system of  claim 34 , wherein the physical defect comprises physical wear, at least one missing part, or at least one damaged component. 
     
     
         36 . The computer system of  claim 34 , the operations further including:
 determining at least one inspection standard corresponding to an inspection area of the article.   
     
     
         37 . The computer system of  claim 36 , wherein the inspecting is based on at least one inspection criterion corresponding to the at least one inspection standard. 
     
     
         38 . The computer system of  claim 36 , wherein the article includes a plurality of areas, wherein each of the at least one inspection standard corresponds to a different area of the plurality of areas, the plurality of areas including at least a front of the article and a rear of the article. 
     
     
         39 . The computer system of  claim 34 , the inspecting further comprising:
 placing an inspection surface of a defect inspection tool on the article; and   comparing a size of a potential snag defect of the article or a potential pilling defect of the article to a surface element size.   
     
     
         40 . The computer system of  claim 39 , the inspecting further comprising:
 determining that the article fails the inspecting based on the comparing; and in response to the determining, updating an inspection history corresponding to the electronic record to indicate a failed inspection, the failed inspection corresponding to at least one of: a presence of a textile snag defect or a textile pilling defect.