Patent US5263837A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3695771A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3695771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for inspecting surfaces
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-08-06
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-08-06
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for inspecting the surface of a workpiece for the presence of burrs. A focused laser beam is swept across the surface of the workpiece while a photodetector positioned at an acute angle to the workpiece surface senses reflections produced by the beam. The photodetector, when positioned in the plane swept by the beam, observes reflections from the tip of the burr and from the portion of the path on the surface which is not obscured by the burr. The length of the path portion from which reflections are obscured by the burr is directly proportional to the height of the burr. Suitable logic and measuring networks calibrated to the sweep velocity on the workpiece and triggered by the reflections are capable of determining the length of the obscured portion and therefore the height of the burr.
Inventors
- 👤 Andras M Bardos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/30; G01B11/303; G01B11/02; G01B11/06; G01B11/0608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for detecting burrs on a surface comprising: means for generating an illuminating beam; means connected to the generating means for scanning the beam at a known rate along a path across the surface to be inspected; illumination sensing means for detecting diffuse illumination reflected from the path on the surface swept by the illuminating beam, said illumination sensing means having a directionally sensitive axis in a plane scanned by said illuminating beam and at an acute angle to the surface scanned by said illuminating beam whereby light from said illuminating beam may be obscured from said sensing means in a region on said surface behind a burr on the side of the burr removed from said sensing means during part of the scanning of said beam across said surface; and measuring means connected to the illumination sensing means and responsive to the signals from the sensing means for measuring the interval between successive reflections detected by said sensing means from the path scanned by the beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for detecting burrs on a surface comprising: means for generating an illuminating beam; means connected to the generating means for scanning the beam at a known rate along a path across the surface to be inspected; illumination sensing means for detecting diffuse illumination reflected from the path on the surface swept by the illuminating beam, said illumination sensing means having a directionally sensitive axis in a plane scanned by said illuminating beam and at an acute angle to the surface scanned by said illuminating beam whereby light from said illuminating beam may be obscured from said sensing means in a region on said surface behind a burr on the side of the burr removed from said sensing means during part of the scanning of said beam across said surface; and measuring means connected to the illumination sensing means and responsive to the signals from the sensing means for measuring the interval between successive reflections detected by said sensing means from the path scanned by the beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the measuring means includes a level detecting means connected to the illumination sensing means and having a first preselected threshold level rendering the measuring means selectively responsive to reflected illumination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The detecting apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the measuring means has a second preselected threshold level less than the first threshold level of the level detecting means; and the measuring means includes switching means connected with the level detecting means for rendering the measuring means operative at either the first or the second threshold level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The detecting apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the switching means is connected to the output of the level detecting means and responsive to the output of the level detecting means for rendering the measuring means operative at the second threshold level as a function of the output of the level detecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the beam generating means is a laser beam generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the scanning means scans the beam at a known rate from the edge of the surface to the path along the surface; the illumination sensing means is a photodetector positioned behind the beam with respect to the direction of scanning and with the directionally sensitive axis directed toward the scanning beam.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
112 words
The method of inspecting a surface for burrs comprising the steps of: generating an illuminating beam; sweeping the beam across a surface to be inspected at a known rate along a path on the surface; detecting, in a plane swept by said beam and at an acute angle with respect to the surface, illumination diffusely reflected from the path on the surface swept by the beam whereby light from said illuminating beam may be obscured from detection at said acute angle in a region on said surface behind a burr during part of the sweeping of the beam across the surface; and measuring the interval between successive detected reflections from the path.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
112 words
The method of inspecting a surface for burrs comprising the steps of: generating an illuminating beam; sweeping the beam across a surface to be inspected at a known rate along a path on the surface; detecting, in a plane swept by said beam and at an acute angle with respect to the surface, illumination diffusely reflected from the path on the surface swept by the beam whereby light from said illuminating beam may be obscured from detection at said acute angle in a region on said surface behind a burr during part of the sweeping of the beam across the surface; and measuring the interval between successive detected reflections from the path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of inspecting according to claim 7 wherein: the step of measuring includes measuring the time interval between a reflection from a burr on the surface and a suBsequent reflection from the path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of inspecting according to claim 7 wherein: the step of generating includes generating a focused laser beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of inspecting according to claim 7 wherein: the step of measuring comprises measuring the time interval between successive detected reflections above preselected threshold levels, the threshold level for the first of the reflections being greater than the threshold level for the succeeding reflection.
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) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |