Inspecting articles

Claim 1

The method of determining cross sectional deviation of portions of the periphery of an article with other portions on the periphery of the article which comprises moving the article continuously without rotation past an inspection station, directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path of the article, causing a first portion of the article to intercept said first beam of radiant energy thereby interrupting the beam, directing a second beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article in such a manner that it is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article when said first portion of the article intercepts the first beam, said second beam being directed such that when the second portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first part, a part of said second beam is intercepted by said article and another portion of the second beam is not intercepted by the article, directing a third beam of radiant eneRgy at an acute angle to the path of the article at another portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first and second beams in a manner such that when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a portion of said third beam is intercepted by the article and another portion is not intercepted by the article, directing a plurality of parallel pairs of beams at an acute angle to the continuous path of the article, said parallel pairs of beams being provided at planes longitudinally spaced with respect to said article, at least two pairs of beams being provided at circumferentially spaced area in a single plane, each said pair of beams being directed such that when one portion of the article in the plane of said pair of beams is intercepted by one of said pair of beams in predetermined relation to another portion of the article, a portion of said other beam of said pair of beams is intercepted by the other portion of the article and another portion of said other beam is not intercepted by the other portion of the article, directing an additional beam of radiant energy in the plane of the end of the article, and causing said article to be rejected in the event that said second or third beams are entirely intercepted by the article or no portion of said second and third beams is intercepted by the article or all or none of each of one of each of the other beams of each said pairs of parallel beams is intercepted by the article thereby indicating that the second or third portion of the article or the portions of the article intercepted by said parallel beams are not in predetermined relation to the article.

Claim 2

The method of determining cross sectional deviation of portions of the periphery of an article with other portions on the periphery of the article which comprises moving the article continuously without rotation past an inspection station, directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path of the article, causing a first portion of the article to intercept said first beam of radiant energy thereby interrupting the beam, directing a second beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article in such a manner that it is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article when said first portion of the article intercepts the first beam, said second beam being directed such that when the second portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first part, a part of said second beam is intercepted by said article and another portion of the second beam is not intercepted by the article, directing a third beam of radiant eneRgy at an acute angle to the path of the article at another portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first and second beams in a manner such that when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a portion of said third beam is intercepted by the article and another portion is not intercepted by the article, directing a plurality of parallel pairs of beams at an acute angle to the continuous path of the article, said parallel pairs of beams being provided at planes longitudinally spaced with respect to said article, at least two pairs of beams being provided at circumferentially spaced area in a single plane, each said pair of beams being directed such that when one portion of the article in the plane of said pair of beams is intercepted by one of said pair of beams in predetermined relation to another portion of the article, a portion of said other beam of said pair of beams is intercepted by the other portion of the article and another portion of said other beam is not intercepted by the other portion of the article, directing an additional beam of radiant energy in the plane of the end of the article, and causing said article to be rejected in the event that said second or third beams are entirely intercepted by the article or no portion of said second and third beams is intercepted by the article or all or none of each of one of each of the other beams of each said pairs of parallel beams is intercepted by the article thereby indicating that the second or third portion of the article or the portions of the article intercepted by said parallel beams are not in predetermined relation to the article.

Claim 3

The method of determining cross sectional deviation of portions of the periphery of an article with other portions on the periphery of the article which comprises moving the article continuously without rotation past an inspection station, directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path of the article, causing a first portion of the article to intercept said first beam of radiant energy thereby interrupting the beam, directing a second beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article in such a manner that it is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article when said first portion of the article intercepts the first beam, said second beam being directed such that when the second portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first part, a part of said second beam is intercepted by said article and another portion of the second beam is not intercepted by the article, directing a third beam of radiant eneRgy at an acute angle to the path of the article at another portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first and second beams in a manner such that when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a portion of said third beam is intercepted by the article and another portion is not intercepted by the article, directing a plurality of parallel pairs of beams at an acute angle to the continuous path of the article, said parallel pairs of beams being provided at planes longitudinally spaced with respect to said article, at least two pairs of beams being provided at circumferentially spaced area in a single plane, each said pair of beams being directed such that when one portion of the article in the plane of said pair of beams is intercepted by one of said pair of beams in predetermined relation to another portion of the article, a portion of said other beam of said pair of beams is intercepted by the other portion of the article and another portion of said other beam is not intercepted by the other portion of the article, directing an additional beam of radiant energy in the plane of the end of the article, and causing said article to be rejected in the event that said second or third beams are entirely intercepted by the article or no portion of said second and third beams is intercepted by the article or all or none of each of one of each of the other beams of each said pairs of parallel beams is intercepted by the article thereby indicating that the second or third portion of the article or the portions of the article intercepted by said parallel beams are not in predetermined relation to the article.

Claim 4

The method of determining cross sectional deviation of portions of the periphery of an article with other portions on the periphery of the article which comprises moving the article continuously without rotation past an inspection station, directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path of the article, causing a first portion of the article to intercept said first beam of radiant energy thereby interrupting the beam, directing a second beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article in such a manner that it is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article when said first portion of the article intercepts the first beam, said second beam being directed such that when the second portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first part, a part of said second beam is intercepted by said article and another portion of the second beam is not intercepted by the article, directing a third beam of radiant eneRgy at an acute angle to the path of the article at another portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first and second beams in a manner such that when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a portion of said third beam is intercepted by the article and another portion is not intercepted by the article, directing a plurality of parallel pairs of beams at an acute angle to the continuous path of the article, said parallel pairs of beams being provided at planes longitudinally spaced with respect to said article, at least two pairs of beams being provided at circumferentially spaced area in a single plane, each said pair of beams being directed such that when one portion of the article in the plane of said pair of beams is intercepted by one of said pair of beams in predetermined relation to another portion of the article, a portion of said other beam of said pair of beams is intercepted by the other portion of the article and another portion of said other beam is not intercepted by the other portion of the article, directing an additional beam of radiant energy in the plane of the end of the article, and causing said article to be rejected in the event that said second or third beams are entirely intercepted by the article or no portion of said second and third beams is intercepted by the article or all or none of each of one of each of the other beams of each said pairs of parallel beams is intercepted by the article thereby indicating that the second or third portion of the article or the portions of the article intercepted by said parallel beams are not in predetermined relation to the article.

Claim 7

The method of determining cross sectional deviation of portions of the periphery of an article with other portions on the periphery of the article which comprises moving the article continuously without rotation past an inspection station, directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path of the article, causing a first portion of the article to intercept said first beam of radiant energy thereby interrupting the beam, directing a second beam of radiant energy in such a manner that it is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article when said first portion of the article intercepts the first beam, said second beam being directed such that when the second portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first part, a part of said second beam is intercepted by said article and another portion of the second beam is not intercepted by the article, directing a third beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article at another portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first and second beams, and causing the article to be rejected when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a portion of said third beam is intercepted by the article and another portion is not intercepted by the article.

Claim 8

The method of determining cross sectional deviation of portions of the periphery of an article with other portions on the periphery of the article which comprises moving the article continuously without rotation past an inspection station, directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path of the article, causing a first portion of the article to intercept said first beam of radiant energy thereby interrupting the beam, directing a second beam of radiant energy in such a manner that it is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article when said first portion of the article intercepts the first beam, said second beam being directed such that when the second portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first part, a part of said second beam is intercepted by said article and another portion of the second beam is not intercepted by the article, directing a third beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article at another portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first and second beams, and causing the article to be rejected when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a portion of said third beam is intercepted by the article and another portion is not intercepted by the article.

Claim 10

An apParatus for determining the deviation of one portion of an article with respect to another portion of the article comprising means for moving the article continuously in a path without rotation past an inspection station, a first source of radiant energy mounted adjacent to the inspection station for directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path in position to be intercepted by a first portion of the article, a first detector positioned with its line of sight intercepting the first beam of radiant energy, whereby a first signal is produced when the article intercepts the beam, a second source of radiant energy directing a second beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article in such a manner that the second beam is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article at the inspection station, a pair of detectors having their lines of vision such that when another portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first portion of the article thereby de-energizing said first detector, one of said pair of detectors is energized and the other is de-energized, means for directing a third beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article at a third portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first beam, a second pair of detectors positioned in a manner such that when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a part of said third beam energizes one of said second pair of detectors and another part of said third beam is intercepted by the article, means for directing parallel pairs of beams at an acute angle with respect to the path of the article, said parallel pairs of beams being at longitudinally spaced planes with respect to the article, at least two pairs of said beams being positioned in each said plane such that each pair is in predetermined relation with respect to two circumferentially spaced portions of the article, a single detector associated with one of each of said pairs of beams and a pair of detectors being associated with the other of said pair of beams such that when one portion of the article in the plane of said pair of beams is intercepted by one of said pair of beams in predetermined relation to another portion of the article, a portion of said other beam of said pair of beams is intercepted by the other portion of the article and another portion of said other beam is not intercepted by the other portion of the article, and means for creating a reject signal when said pair of detectors associated with said second beam is energized simultaneously or de-energized simultaneously when said first detector is de-energized or when said pair of detectors associated with said third beam is energized simultaneously or de-energized simultaneously when said first detector is de-energized or when any of said pairs of detectors associated with the other beams of said pairs of beams are energized simultaneously or de-energized simultaneously.

Claim 11

An apParatus for determining the deviation of one portion of an article with respect to another portion of the article comprising means for moving the article continuously in a path without rotation past an inspection station, a first source of radiant energy mounted adjacent to the inspection station for directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path in position to be intercepted by a first portion of the article, a first detector positioned with its line of sight intercepting the first beam of radiant energy, whereby a first signal is produced when the article intercepts the beam, a second source of radiant energy directing a second beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article in such a manner that the second beam is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article at the inspection station, a pair of detectors having their lines of vision such that when another portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first portion of the article thereby de-energizing said first detector, one of said pair of detectors is energized and the other is de-energized, means for directing a third beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article at a third portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first beam, a second pair of detectors positioned in a manner such that when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a part of said third beam energizes one of said second pair of detectors and another part of said third beam is intercepted by the article, means for directing parallel pairs of beams at an acute angle with respect to the path of the article, said parallel pairs of beams being at longitudinally spaced planes with respect to the article, at least two pairs of said beams being positioned in each said plane such that each pair is in predetermined relation with respect to two circumferentially spaced portions of the article, a single detector associated with one of each of said pairs of beams and a pair of detectors being associated with the other of said pair of beams such that when one portion of the article in the plane of said pair of beams is intercepted by one of said pair of beams in predetermined relation to another portion of the article, a portion of said other beam of said pair of beams is intercepted by the other portion of the article and another portion of said other beam is not intercepted by the other portion of the article, and means for creating a reject signal when said pair of detectors associated with said second beam is energized simultaneously or de-energized simultaneously when said first detector is de-energized or when said pair of detectors associated with said third beam is energized simultaneously or de-energized simultaneously when said first detector is de-energized or when any of said pairs of detectors associated with the other beams of said pairs of beams are energized simultaneously or de-energized simultaneously.

Claim 14

An apparatus For determining the deviation of one portion of an article with respect to another portion of the article comprising means for moving the article continuously in a path without rotation past an inspection station, a first source of radiant energy mounted adjacent to the inspection station for directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path in position to be intercepted by a first portion of the article, a first detector positioned with its line of sight intercepting the first beam of radiant energy, whereby a first signal is produced when the article intercepts the beam, a second source of radiant energy directing a second beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article in such a manner that the second beam is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article at the inspection station, a pair of detectors having their lines of vision such that when another portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first portion of the article thereby de-energizing said first detector, one of said pair of detectors is energized and the other is de-energized, means for directing a third beam of radiant energy at a third portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first beam, a second pair of detectors positioned in a manner such that when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a pair of said third beam energizes one of said second pair of detectors and another part of said third beam is intercepted by the article, and means for creating a reject signal if both or each of said pair of detectors are energized or de-energized when said first detector is de-energized.

Claim 15

An apparatus For determining the deviation of one portion of an article with respect to another portion of the article comprising means for moving the article continuously in a path without rotation past an inspection station, a first source of radiant energy mounted adjacent to the inspection station for directing a first beam of radiant energy transversely of the path in position to be intercepted by a first portion of the article, a first detector positioned with its line of sight intercepting the first beam of radiant energy, whereby a first signal is produced when the article intercepts the beam, a second source of radiant energy directing a second beam of radiant energy at an acute angle to the path of the article in such a manner that the second beam is in predetermined relation to a second portion of the article at the inspection station, a pair of detectors having their lines of vision such that when another portion of the article is in predetermined relation to the first portion of the article thereby de-energizing said first detector, one of said pair of detectors is energized and the other is de-energized, means for directing a third beam of radiant energy at a third portion of the article in predetermined relation to the first beam, a second pair of detectors positioned in a manner such that when the third portion of the article is in predetermined relationship to the first portion of the article, a pair of said third beam energizes one of said second pair of detectors and another part of said third beam is intercepted by the article, and means for creating a reject signal if both or each of said pair of detectors are energized or de-energized when said first detector is de-energized.