US3565248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for photoelectric inspection of balls
Assignee: Sebastian Messerschmidt Spezialmaschinenfabrik Firma
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Filing: 1968-05-01
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1988-05-01
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for photoelectric inspection of balls in which the balls are fed from a hopper to holes in a rotatable cylinder. The rotatable cylinder is indexed to carry the balls past scanning stations at which they are inspected by detectors. An eccentrically mounted driving cylinder located within the rotatable cylinder engages the balls at the scanning stations. The driving cylinder is rotated and axially reciprocated to apply to the balls two-directional motion. In a modification the driving cylinder is replaced by an endless belt which extends parallel to the axis of the rotatable cylinder and also has lateral reciprocatory motion applied to it.
Inventors
- 👤 Sebastian Messerschmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/95; G01N21/951; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/904; Y10S209/919; Y10S209/934
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for simultaneous optical inspection of substantially the entire surface of a plurality of balls, said apparatus comprising in combination: a rotatable hollow cylinder having in its wall a plurality of holes arranged in several axially spaced circular patterns, the diameters of the holes being such that at least a portion of each ball inserted into one of said holes for inspection protrudes from the inner wall of the cylinder; a driving means located within the cylinder for frictional engagement with protruding ball portions, said driving means being arranged simultaneously to move in crosswise directions thereby causing engaged balls to rotate about two intersecting axes; a stationarily mounted photoelectric detecting means for each of said axially spaced circular patterns, each of said detecting means directing a scanning beam upon the respective pattern to scan substantially the entire surface of balls inserted into the pattern holes rotary therein as said holes intersect the beam of the respective detecting means, the intersecting position of each hole constituting the scanning position of the respective hole; and means for indexing the angular position of the cylinder so that successive holes of each pattern are moved into scanning position with the respective detecting means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for simultaneous optical inspection of substantially the entire surface of a plurality of balls, said apparatus comprising in combination: a rotatable hollow cylinder having in its wall a plurality of holes arranged in several axially spaced circular patterns, the diameters of the holes being such that at least a portion of each ball inserted into one of said holes for inspection protrudes from the inner wall of the cylinder; a driving means located within the cylinder for frictional engagement with protruding ball portions, said driving means being arranged simultaneously to move in crosswise directions thereby causing engaged balls to rotate about two intersecting axes; a stationarily mounted photoelectric detecting means for each of said axially spaced circular patterns, each of said detecting means directing a scanning beam upon the respective pattern to scan substantially the entire surface of balls inserted into the pattern holes rotary therein as said holes intersect the beam of the respective detecting means, the intersecting position of each hole constituting the scanning position of the respective hole; and means for indexing the angular position of the cylinder so that successive holes of each pattern are moved into scanning position with the respective detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said driving means rotates about a single axis and travels in a lineAr direction parallel to its axis of rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the driving means comprises a driving cylinder eccentrically located inside said cylinder having the holes, said driving cylinder being mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to that of said cylinder having the holes and also for axial reciprocation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said driving cylinder is a hollow cylinder, and wherein a magnet means for each of said hole patterns is stationarily mounted within said cylinder, each of said magnet means facing the respective scanning position for attracting balls passing said scanning position into frictional engagement with the driving cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the amplitude of the axial reciprocation of the driving cylinder is at least equal to half the circumference of a ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving means comprises an endless belt which extends inside said cylinder and includes a straight portion parallel to the axis of the cylinder and engageable with the balls, the apparatus also comprising means for driving the belt, said belt being mounted for rotational reciprocatory motion about the axis of said cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the amplitude of the rotational reciprocation of the endless belt is at least half the circumference of a ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, which comprises, underneath the straight portion of the endless belt, a stationary magnet means for each scanning position each of said magnet means facing the respective scanning position for pulling the balls into frictional contact with the belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which comprises, inside said rotatable cylinder, a segmental member which is gapped at the scanning positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which comprises outlet means for discharging balls from each of said patterns, and demagnetization means for degaussing balls upon discharge from the apparatus through said outlet means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the outlet means for the balls is provided with a two-way gate controlled by the respective scanning position, one gate way accepting balls passing inspection and the other gate way accepting balls failing inspection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |