Flaw detection and marking apparatus

Claim 2

In flaw detection and marking apparatus of the type including means for scanning a body of substantially homogeneous material with a scanning beam and means for providing a flaw indication output in response to each irregularity in said body encountered by said scanning beam, and position indicating means for identifying which of a predetermined plurality of areas of said body said scanning beam is traversing at each instant, the improvement comprising: first marking means for marking each area of said body in which said scanning beam encounters an irregularity; detector means for inspecting said body of material, in regions thereof subjected to said first marking means, and operable to generate a signal in response to failure of said first marking means effectively to mark; second marking means including a movably mounted marking device; and means for moving said movably mounted marking device to mark the body undergoing inspection, in the region of an irregularity therein, in response to said signal.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, and characterized in that said body of material is transparent, and said detector means comprises: photodetector means aligned with said first marking means, and disposed to one side of said body of material; and a source of light disposed to the other side of said body of material and directed therethrough toward said photodetector means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, and characterized in that said second marking means comprises: nut means for supporting said marking device; lead screw means extending generally transversely of said body of material and engaged by said nut means; motor means for driving said lead screw means; and limit switch means operable by said marking device in positions thereof aligned with said first marking means and effective to de-energize said motor means upon arrival at a position where a flaw indication signal is present.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, and further characterized in that said motor means is of the reversible type; and including end limit switch means engageable by said marking device at opposite ends of its travel in a region defined by said first recited limit switch means, such engagement being effective to reverse the direction of rotation of said motor means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2, and characterized in that said signal is derived from the output of said photodetector means in combination with signals derived from said flaw indication output and said position indicating means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2, and characterized in that said means for generating a signal includes, in series electrical circuit with said photodetector means: a preamplifier; a comparator; an inverter; and one terminal of a three-input NAND gate, the output terminal of the latter being connected to the input terminal of a flip-flop having a Q and a Q output terminal; said means for generating a signal further including: a two-input NAND gate and a connection between the Q terminal of said flip-flop and one input terminal of said NAND gate; a NOR gate; a connection between the output terminal of said NAND gate and one input terminal of said NOR gate; a relay driver and a motor control relay connected in series electric circuit, and a connection between the output terminal of said NOR gate and said relay driver; an inverter; a connection between the output terminal of said inverter and the other input terminal of said two-input NAND gate; means for producing a signal at each of the stations traversed by said movably mounted marking device; a connection between said means for producing a signal and the input of said inverter; means for producing a signal indicative of a flaw mark applied by said first marking means, and a connection from said means for producing a signal to a second input terminal of said three-input NAND gate; and means for generating a sampling pulse having a terminal connected to the third input terminal of said three-input NAND gate, said pulse being generated at an instant of time a detected flaw is aligned with said movable marking device.

Claim 8

Flaw detection and marking apparatus for a substantially planar body of transparent material, comprising: means for scanning said body; means for providing a flaw indication output in response to each irregularity in said body encountered by said means for scanning; position indicating means for identifying which of a predetermined plurality of areas of said body said means for scanning is traversing at a given instant; first marking means for marking each area of said body in which said means for scanning encounters an irregularity; detector means operable to inspect said body of material, in regions thereof subjected to said marking means, to determine whether or not a detected flaw has been effectively marked; second marking means including a movably mounted marking device; and means for moving said movably mounted marking device to mark the body undergoing inspection in the region of an irregularity therein, in response to a signal derived from said detector means in combination with signals derived from said flaw indication output and said position indicating means.

Claim 9

Flaw detection and marking apparatus for a substantially planar body of transparent material, comprising: means for scanning said body; means for providing a flaw indication output in response to each irregularity in said body encountered by said means for scanning; position indicating means for identifying which of a predetermined plurality of areas of said body said means for scanning is traversing at a given instant; first marking means for marking each area of said body in which said means for scanning encounters an irregularity; detector means operable to inspect said body of material, in regions thereof subjected to said marking means, to determine whether or not a detected flaw has been effectively marked; second marking means including a movably mounted marking device; and means for moving said movably mounted marking device to mark the body undergoing inspection in the region of an irregularity therein, in response to a signal derived from said detector means in combination with signals derived from said flaw indication output and said position indicating means.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7, and characterized in that: said body of material is caused to move along a predetermined path and said means for scanning is operable to scan said body in a direction transverse its path of travel; said markIng means comprises a plurality of individual marking devices spaced transversely of the direction of movement of said body and located downstream of said means for scanning; and said movably mounted marking device is positioned downsteam of said marking devices and movable in a direction transverse the direction of movement of said body, to a backup position aligned with one of said individual marking devices.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8, and characterized further by the inclusion of alarm means operable, upon detection of an ineffectively marked irregularity in said body of material, to signal malfunctioning of a marking device.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 8, and characterized further in that said detector means comprises: a plurality of photodetectors each aligned with one of said individual marking devices, and disposed to one side of said body of material and intermediate said individual marking devices and said movably mounted marking device; and a source of light disposed to the other side of said body of material and directed therethrough toward said photodetectors.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10, and further characterized in that each said photodetector is carried by a corresponding one of said individual marking guns with which it is aligned.

Claim 14

Flaw detection and marking apparatus for a substantially planar body of transparent material, comprising: means for scanning said body; means for providing a flaw indication output in response to each irregularity in said body encountered by said means for scanning; position indicating means for identifying which of a predetermined plurality of areas of said body said means for scanning is traversing at a given instant; first marking means for marking each identified area of said body in which said means for scanning encounters an irregularity; detector means for inspecting said body of material, in regions thereof subjected to said marking means, and operable to generate a signal in response to failure of said first marking means effectively to mark; second marking means including a movably mounted marking device; and means for moving said movably mounted marking device, in response to said signal, to mark the body undergoing inspection in the region of an irregularity therein.

Claim 15

Flaw detection and marking apparatus for a substantially planar body of transparent material, comprising: means for scanning said body; means for providing a flaw indication output in response to each irregularity in said body encountered by said means for scanning; position indicating means for identifying which of a predetermined plurality of areas of said body said means for scanning is traversing at a given instant; first marking means for marking each identified area of said body in which said means for scanning encounters an irregularity; detector means for inspecting said body of material, in regions thereof subjected to said marking means, and operable to generate a signal in response to failure of said first marking means effectively to mark; second marking means including a movably mounted marking device; and means for moving said movably mounted marking device, in response to said signal, to mark the body undergoing inspection in the region of an irregularity therein.

Claim 16

In flaw detection and marking apparatus of the type including means for scanning a body of substantially homogeneous material with a scanning beam and means for providing a flaw indication output in response to each irregularity in said body encountered by said scanning beam, and position indicating means for identifying which of a predetermined plurality of areas of said body said scanning beam is traversing at each instant, the improvement comprising: first marking means for marking an identified area of said body in which said scanning beam encounters an irregularity; second marking means including a movably mounted marking device; means for moving said movably mounted marking device to mark the body undergoing inspection, in the region of an irregularity therein, in response to a predetermined signal; and detector means for inspecting said body of material in regions thereof subjected to said first marking means, and operable to generate the recited predetermined signal in response to failure of said first marking means effectively to mark.

Claim 17

In flaw detection and marking apparatus of the type including means for scanning a body of substantially homogeneous material with a scanning beam and means for providing a flaw indication output in response to each irregularity in said body encountered by said scanning beam, and position indicating means for identifying which of a predetermined plurality of areas of said body said scanning beam is traversing at each instant, the improvement comprising: first marking means for marking an identified area of said body in which said scanning beam encounters an irregularity; second marking means including a movably mounted marking device; means for moving said movably mounted marking device to mark the body undergoing inspection, in the region of an irregularity therein, in response to a predetermined signal; and detector means for inspecting said body of material in regions thereof subjected to said first marking means, and operable to generate the recited predetermined signal in response to failure of said first marking means effectively to mark.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13, and characterized in that said detector means comprises: a photosensor for looking at an identified area of said body which has been subjected to said first marking means; means defining a threshold detector coupled to said photosensor and operable to generate a first signal upon sensing failure of said first marking means; means for generating a second signal upon operation of said first marking means; means for generating a third signal coincident with disposition of the stated identified area in alignment with said photosensor; first means defining a coincidence circuit for receiving said first, second, and third signals as input and effeCtive thereupon to generate a fourth signal as an output; second means defining a coincidence circuit for receiving as input said fourth signal and a fifth signal corresponding to lack of the desired location of said second marking device, said second means effective thereupon to generate the recited predetermined signal.