Container inspection apparatus with plural detectors and rotating projection system

Claim 2

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter, a source of radiant energy disposed relative to the container to provide an energized field for inspection; a plurality of radiant energy sensitive means each constructed to receive radiant energy from the energized field and producing a signal at any instant in accordance with the radiant energy received at that instant; first means for defining an individual instantaneous inspection field for each of said sensitive means of the plurality, and within said energized field for inspection and coupling said individual instantaneous inspection fields respectively to the sensitive means of the plurality, the several instantaneous inspection fields as associated with all of the sensitive means of the plurality covering less than the energized field for inspection; second means coupled to the first means to cause the several instantaneous inspection fields to rotate about a common center; third means coupled to the first means to cause that common center to rotate so that the several individual fields of inspection sweep the entire energized field for inspection; and tuned circuit means connected to the radiation sensitive means of the plurality to be responsive to pass band signal components in said signals, tHe passband being defined by the rotational speeds as provided by the second and third means.

Claim 3

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter; a light source disposed relative to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive light from the illuminated field, each light sensitive means of the plurality producing an electrical signal at any instant in accordance with the light as received at that instant; light stop means on each of the light sensitive means separating the radiation sensitive area of the light sensitive means into at least two noncontiguous portions; optical means for directing at any instant and onto each light sensitive means of the plurality, light from a particular area of the illuminated field, the particular areas from which light is directed to all said light sensitive means at any instant defining a common instantaneous inspection field; means coupled to the optical means for varying the particular area from which a light sensitive means of the plurality receives light in a direction which when projected upon the light sensitive means is essentially transverse to the direction of the predominant extension of the light stop means thereon; means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the common inspection field to progressively cover the entire illuminated field; and tuned circuit means connected to the light sensitive means of the plurality to be responsive to a passband signal component in said signal, the passband being defined by the speed for varying as provided by the first and second means.

Claim 4

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter; a light source disposed relative to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive light from the illuminated field, each light sensitive means of the plurality producing an electrical signal at any instant in accordance with the light as received at that instant; light stop means on each of the light sensitive means separating the radiation sensitive area of the light sensitive means into at least two noncontiguous portions; optical means for directing at any instant and onto each light sensitive means of the plurality, light from a particular area of the illuminated field, the particular areas from which light is directed to all said light sensitive means at any instant defining a common instantaneous inspection field; means coupled to the optical means for varying the particular area from which a light sensitive means of the plurality receives light in a direction which when projected upon the light sensitive means is essentially transverse to the direction of the predominant extension of the light stop means thereon; means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the common inspection field to progressively cover the entire illuminated field; and tuned circuit means connected to the light sensitive means of the plurality to be responsive to a passband signal component in said signal, the passband being defined by the speed for varying as provided by the first and second means.

Claim 5

In a system as set forth in claim 2, the circuit means including a plurality of tuned circuits, a circuit of the plurality being connected to those light sensitive means of the plurality not having a common boundary.

Claim 6

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter, the combination comprising: means disposed relative to the container for illuminating the container to provide a field of light as a total field of inspection modulated by the optical characteristics of the container and any particle in the container; a plurality of light sensitive members disposed in spaced relationship to each other and to said field of inspection; optical means for providing to said light sensitive means radiation from an instantaneous field of inspection of said total field of inspection, each light sensitive means of the plurality receiving light from a different portion of the instantaneous field of inspection, and including means for causing redirecting the light as provided to the sensitive means corresponding to a rotation of the instantaneous field about its center and further corresponding to nutation of the instantaneous field of inspection about the center of and within said total field of inspection; reticle means disposed at the light sensitive means to define for each light sensitive means at least one blind zone and at least one zone sensitive to the radiation as provided from a portion of the instantaneous field of inspection by said optical means; and means connected to said light sensitive means to receive therefrom signals representative of the radiation as received by the light sensitive means at any instant.

Claim 7

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter, the combination comprising: means disposed relative to the container for illuminating the container to provide a field of light as a total field of inspection modulated by the optical characteristics of the container and any particle in the container; a plurality of light sensitive members disposed in spaced relationship to each other and to said field of inspection; optical means for providing to said light sensitive means radiation from an instantaneous field of inspection of said total field of inspection, each light sensitive means of the plurality receiving light from a different portion of the instantaneous field of inspection, and including means for causing redirecting the light as provided to the sensitive means corresponding to a rotation of the instantaneous field about its center and further corresponding to nutation of the instantaneous field of inspection about the center of and within said total field of inspection; reticle means disposed at the light sensitive means to define for each light sensitive means at least one blind zone and at least one zone sensitive to the radiation as provided from a portion of the instantaneous field of inspection by said optical means; and means connected to said light sensitive means to receive therefrom signals representative of the radiation as received by the light sensitive means at any instant.

Claim 8

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter, the combination comprising: means disposed relative to the container for illuminating the container to provide a field of light as a total field of inspection modulated by the optical characteristics of the container and any particle in the container; optical means disposed for providing radiation from an instantaneous field of inspection of said total field of inspection for reception in a particular plane as a projected inspection field and including means for rotating the projected inspection field about its center and for redirecting the optical means corresponding to nutation of the instantaneous field of inspection about the center of and within said total field inspection; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed in a particular pattern in the particular plane, leaving zones of nonsensitivity between them, each receiving radiation from a portion of the instantaneous field of observation, the light sensitive means together receiving radiation of less than the entire instantaneous field of inspection corresponding to said nonsensitive zones; and means connected to said light sensitive means to receive therefrom signals representative of the radiation as received by the light sensitive means at any instant.

Claim 9

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter, the combination comprising: means disposed relative to the container for illuminating the container to provide a field of light as a total field of inspection modulated by the optical characteristics of the container and any particle in the container; optical means disposed for providing radiation from an instantaneous field of inspection of said total field of inspection for reception in a particular plane as a projected inspection field and including means for rotating the projected inspection field about its center and for redirecting the optical means corresponding to nutation of the instantaneous field of inspection about the center of and within said total field inspection; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed in a particular pattern in the particular plane, leaving zones of nonsensitivity between them, each receiving radiation from a portion of the instantaneous field of observation, the light sensitive means together receiving radiation of less than the entire instantaneous field of inspection corresponding to said nonsensitive zones; and means connected to said light sensitive means to receive therefrom signals representative of the radiation as received by the light sensitive means at any instant.

Claim 10

In a system as set forth in claim 5, there being a stationary reticle means disposed in the plane of the light sensitive means to define a plurality of blind zones and a plurality of transparent zones for the light sensitive means to be sensitive at the transparent zones to radiation from the instantaneous field of inspection as provided by the optical means.

Claim 11

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter; a light source disposed relative to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive light from the illuminated field, each light sensitive means of the plurality producing an electrical signal at any instant in accordance with the light as received at that instant; optical means for directing, at any instant and onto each light sensitive means of the plurality, light from a particular area of the illuminated field, the particular areas from which light is directed to all said light sensitive means at any instant defining a common instantaneous inspection field; first means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the particular areas as respectively inspected by each said light sensitive means within said common inspection field; second means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the common inspection field to progressively cover the entire illuminated field; and tuned circuit means connected to the light sensitive means of the plurality to be responsive to a passband signal component in said signal, the passband being defined by the speed for varying as provided by the first and second means, there being light stops provided on the light sensitive means of the plurality.

Claim 12

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter; a light source disposed relative to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive light from the illuminated field, each light sensitive means of the plurality producing an electrical signal at any instant in accordance with the light as received at that instant; optical means for directing, at any instant and onto each light sensitive means of the plurality, light from a particular area of the illuminated field, the particular areas from which light is directed to all said light sensitive means at any instant defining a common instantaneous inspection field; first means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the particular areas as respectively inspected by each said light sensitive means within said common inspection field; second means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the common inspection field to progressively cover the entire illuminated field; and tuned circuit means connected to the light sensitive means of the plurality to be responsive to a passband signal component in said signal, the passband being defined by the speed for varying as provided by the first and second means, there being light stops provided on the light sensitive means of the plurality.

Claim 13

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter; a light source disposed relative to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive light from the illuminated field, each light sensitive means of the plurality producing an electrical signal at any instant in accordance with the light as received at that instant; optical means for directing, at any instant and onto each light sensitive means of the plurality, light from a particular area of the illuminated field, the particular areas from which light is directed to all said light sensitive means at any instant defining a common instantaneous inspection field; first means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the particular areas as respectively inspected by each said light sensitive means within said common inspection field; second means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the common inspection field to progressively cover the entire illuminated field; and tuned circuit means connected to the light sensitive means of the plurality to be responsive to a passband signal component in said signal, the passband being defined by the speed for varying as provided by the first and second means, the circuit means including a plurality of tuned circuits, each circuit of the plurality being connected to those light sensitive means of the plurality not having a common boundary.

Claim 14

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter; a light source disposed relative to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive light from the illuminated field, each light sensitive means of the plurality producing an electrical signal at any instant in accordance with the light as received at that instant; optical means for directing, at any instant and onto each light sensitive means of the plurality, light from a particular area of the illuminated field, the particular areas from which light is directed to all said light sensitive means at any instant defining a common instantaneous inspection field; first means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the particular areas as respectively inspected by each said light sensitive means within said common inspection field; second means coupled to the optical means for progressively varying the common inspection field to progressively cover the entire illuminated field; and tuned circuit means connected to the light sensitive means of the plurality to be responsive to a passband signal component in said signal, the passband being defined by the speed for varying as provided by the first and second means, the circuit means including a plurality of tuned circuits, each circuit of the plurality being connected to those light sensitive means of the plurality not having a common boundary.

Claim 15

In a system for inspecting a container for small particles of foreign maTter, a source of light disposed relative to the container for providing light to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; first means including a rotatable prism disposed relative to the container for continuously receiving light from a portion of the illuminated field of the container; second means operatively coupled to the first means for obtaining rotation of the prism to progressively vary the area from which light is received from within the illuminated field; a second rotatable prism disposed in the path of the light as received by the first prism for defining an eccentric inspection field within said illuminated field; means coupled to the second prism for providing rotation to the second prism for rotating the eccentric field of inspection about the axis of rotation of the second prism; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive the light from the light path after passage through the first and second prisms and from within the eccentric inspection field; and circuit means coupled to said light sensitive means for being responsive to particular bandpass signals representative of foreign particles in the container, there being light stops provided on the light sensitive means of the plurality.

Claim 16

In a system for inspecting a container for small particles of foreign maTter, a source of light disposed relative to the container for providing light to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; first means including a rotatable prism disposed relative to the container for continuously receiving light from a portion of the illuminated field of the container; second means operatively coupled to the first means for obtaining rotation of the prism to progressively vary the area from which light is received from within the illuminated field; a second rotatable prism disposed in the path of the light as received by the first prism for defining an eccentric inspection field within said illuminated field; means coupled to the second prism for providing rotation to the second prism for rotating the eccentric field of inspection about the axis of rotation of the second prism; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive the light from the light path after passage through the first and second prisms and from within the eccentric inspection field; and circuit means coupled to said light sensitive means for being responsive to particular bandpass signals representative of foreign particles in the container, there being light stops provided on the light sensitive means of the plurality.

Claim 17

In a system for inspecting a container for small particles of foreign matter, a source of light disposed relative to the container for providing light to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; first means including a rotatable prism disposed relative to the container for continuously receiving light from a portion of the illuminated field of the container; second means operatively coupled to the first means for obtaining rotation of the prism to progressively vary the area from which light is received from within the illuminated field; a second rotatable prism disposed in the path of the light as received by the first prism for defining an eccentric inspection field within said illuminated field; means coupled to the second prism for providing rotation to the second prism for rotating the eccentric field of inspection about the axis of rotation of the second prism; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive the light from the light path after passage through the first and second prisms and from within the eccentric inspection field; and circuit means coupled to said light sensitive means for being responsive to particular bandpass signals representative of foreign particles in the container, the circuit means including a plurality of tuned circuits, each circuit of the plurality being connected to those light sensitive means of the plurality not having a common boundary.

Claim 18

In a system for inspecting a container for small particles of foreign matter, a source of light disposed relative to the container for providing light to the container to provide an illuminated field for inspection; first means including a rotatable prism disposed relative to the container for continuously receiving light from a portion of the illuminated field of the container; second means operatively coupled to the first means for obtaining rotation of the prism to progressively vary the area from which light is received from within the illuminated field; a second rotatable prism disposed in the path of the light as received by the first prism for defining an eccentric inspection field within said illuminated field; means coupled to the second prism for providing rotation to the second prism for rotating the eccentric field of inspection about the axis of rotation of the second prism; a plurality of light sensitive means disposed to receive the light from the light path after passage through the first and second prisms and from within the eccentric inspection field; and circuit means coupled to said light sensitive means for being responsive to particular bandpass signals representative of foreign particles in the container, the circuit means including a plurality of tuned circuits, each circuit of the plurality being connected to those light sensitive means of the plurality not having a common boundary.

Claim 19

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter: a source of radiant energy disposed relative to the container to provide an energized field through the container; first means disposed relative to the energized field for defining an instantaneous field for inspection where the instantaneous field constitutes a portion of the energized field; second means operatively coupled to the first means for obtaining a rotation of the instantaneous field about the energized field at a first particular frequency; a plurality of third means disposed relative to the second means for sensing the energy in selected portions of the energized field; fourth means disposed relative to the energized field for rotating the instantaneous field past the plurality of third means at a second particular frequency greater than the first particular frequency; and fifth means operatively coupled to the plurality of third means in a particular relationship for receiving signals in a particular frequency range related to the first and second particular frequencies to provide an indication of large and small particles in the container, the fifth means being connected to pairs of non-adjacent third means to provide the indication of large and small Particles in the container.

Claim 20

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter: a source of radiant energy disposed relative to the container to provide an energized field through the container; first means disposed relative to the energized field for defining an instantaneous field for inspection where the instantaneous field constitutes a portion of the energized field; second means operatively coupled to the first means for obtaining a rotation of the instantaneous field about the energized field at a first particular frequency; a plurality of third means disposed relative to the second means for sensing the energy in selected portions of the energized field; fourth means disposed relative to the energized field for rotating the instantaneous field past the plurality of third means at a second particular frequency greater than the first particular frequency; and fifth means operatively coupled to the plurality of third means in a particular relationship for receiving signals in a particular frequency range related to the first and second particular frequencies to provide an indication of large and small particles in the container, the fifth means being connected to pairs of non-adjacent third means to provide the indication of large and small Particles in the container.

Claim 21

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter: means for directing energy through the container in a particular area to define an energized field; first means disposed relative to the energized field for progressively inspecting particular portions of the energized field on a cyclic basis at a particular rate; a plurality of energy-responsive means disposed in spaced relationship to one another to receive the energy from the particular portions of the energized field; second means disposed between the first means and the plurality of energy-responsive means for scanning the energy in the particular portions of the energy-responsive means at a second rate greater than the first rate; and third means connected to the energy-responsive means in the plurality in a particular relationship to produce output signals having alternating components representing small and large particles in the container, the first and second means being optical and being rotatable at frequencies related to the first and second rates and the third means being responsive only to signals having frequency components in a frequency range dependent upon the arithmetical sum and the arithmetical difference of the first and second rates to produce the output signals having alternating components representing the small and large particles in the container, the third means being connected to non-adjacent pairs of the energy-responsive means.

Claim 22

In a system for inspecting a container for particles of foreign matter: means for directing energy through the container in a particular area to define an energized field; first means disposed relative to the energized field for progressively inspecting particular portions of the energized field on a cyclic basis at a particular rate; a plurality of energy-responsive means disposed in spaced relationship to one another to receive the energy from the particular portions of the energized field; second means disposed between the first means and the plurality of energy-responsive means for scanning the energy in the particular portions of the energy-responsive means at a second rate greater than the first rate; and third means connected to the energy-responsive means in the plurality in a particular relationship to produce output signals having alternating components representing small and large particles in the container, the first and second means being optical and being rotatable at frequencies related to the first and second rates and the third means being responsive only to signals having frequency components in a frequency range dependent upon the arithmetical sum and the arithmetical difference of the first and second rates to produce the output signals having alternating components representing the small and large particles in the container, the third means being connected to non-adjacent pairs of the energy-responsive means.