US3791741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Size gauging and quality inspecting rotating articles by imaging onto spatial filters and detectors
Assignee: BPrex Healthcare Brookville Inc
•
Filing: 1971-09-28
•
Granted: 1974-02-12
•
Expires: 1991-09-28
Abstract
Abstract Articles to be inspected are moved in a predetermined path through two successive inspection stations forming a part of a gauging assembly and are continuously rotated while moving through the inspection stations. The portion of the article to be gauged is illuminated at each inspection station and an image of the illuminated portion is directed through spatial filters of the Ronchi ruling type onto optical sensors which sense the modulation of the light passing through the spatial filters. The modulated light is then electronically measured to produce electronic signals corresponding to the dimension or dimensional variation being inspected and, in addition, is compared with predetermined standards to produce a reject signal when the deviation from the predetermined standards is beyond a predetermined amount.
Inventors
- 👤 I Brenholdt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:35
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/12; B07C5/122; B07C5/126; G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/08; G01B11/24; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/90; G01N21/9054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of inspecting articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, directing an image of a circular portion of the article through a spatial filter to produce a modulated light signal, comparing the variations in modulated light signal to a predetermined standard, and producing a reject signal when the variations exceed the predetermined standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of inspecting articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, directing an image of a circular portion of the article through a spatial filter to produce a modulated light signal, comparing the variations in modulated light signal to a predetermined standard, and producing a reject signal when the variations exceed the predetermined standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of inspecting articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, illuminating a circular portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station, directing an image of the illuminated portion through a spatial filter, directing the modulated light after passage through the spatial filter onto a light-sensitive device, creating a continuously modulating signal in response to the passage of the light to the light-sensitive device, comparing said modulated signal to a predetermined standard, and producing a reject signal when the modulated light signal exceeds the standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of inspecting articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, illuminating a circular portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station, directing an image of the illuminated portion through a spatial filter, directing the modulated light after passage through the spatial filter onto a light-sensitive device, creating a continuously modulating signal in response to the passage of the light to the light-sensitive device, comparing said modulated signal to a predetermined standard, and producing a reject signal when the modulated light signal exceeds the standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
146 words
The method of inspecting the diameters of articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, illuminating a circular peripheral portion of each article as it is moved through the inspection station at the area the diameter of which is to be inspected, causing the leading edge of the illuminated peripheral portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station to produce a plurality of pulses, causing the trailing edge of the illuminated peripheral portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station to produce a plurality of pulses, comparing at any instant the time between the leading edge and trailing edge signals, and creating a signal corresponding to the tiMe between said signals such that it is proportional to the diameter of the article.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
146 words
The method of inspecting the diameters of articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, illuminating a circular peripheral portion of each article as it is moved through the inspection station at the area the diameter of which is to be inspected, causing the leading edge of the illuminated peripheral portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station to produce a plurality of pulses, causing the trailing edge of the illuminated peripheral portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station to produce a plurality of pulses, comparing at any instant the time between the leading edge and trailing edge signals, and creating a signal corresponding to the tiMe between said signals such that it is proportional to the diameter of the article.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method set forth in claim 3 including the step of creating an inspecting pulse having a width corresponding to the diameter of the article, comparing the width of said pulse with a standard pulse, and creating a reject pulse when the inspecting pulse deviates from the standard pulse by a predetermined amount.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method set forth in claim 4 including the step of producing a signal which has an amplitude that varies in relation to the speed of the article through the inspecting station, modifying the amplitude of said inspecting pulse in response to said last-mentioned pulse, comparing the amplitude of said modified inspecting pulse to the amplitude of said standard pulse, and creating a reject signal when the amplitude of said modified inspecting pulse exceeds the amplitude of said standard pulse by a predetermined amount.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for inspecting articles comprising means for illuminating a portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station, a spatial filter, means for directing an image of the illuminated portion through said spatial filter to produce a modulated light signal, means for comparing the variations in modulated light signal to a predetermined standard, and means for producing a reject signal when the variations exceed the predetermined standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for inspecting articles comprising means for illuminating a portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station, a spatial filter, means for directing an image of the illuminated portion through said spatial filter to produce a modulated light signal, means for comparing the variations in modulated light signal to a predetermined standard, and means for producing a reject signal when the variations exceed the predetermined standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
A measuring apparatus comprising spatial filter means comprising a plurality of equally spaced rulings, each ruling including a relatively radiant area and a relatively non-radiant area which together define a space cycle, image forming means for forming an image on said spatial filter means, said image having a first edge spaced relative to a second edge by a dimension to be measured, said dimension lying between (n + f) of said cycles and (n + 1) of said cycles where n is any integer and f is any fraction, and detecting means for detecting the radiation from said spatial filter means, as limited by said first and said second edges, to measure said dimension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
A measuring apparatus comprising spatial filter means comprising a plurality of equally spaced rulings, each ruling including a relatively radiant area and a relatively non-radiant area which together define a space cycle, image forming means for forming an image on said spatial filter means, said image having a first edge spaced relative to a second edge by a dimension to be measured, said dimension lying between (n + f) of said cycles and (n + 1) of said cycles where n is any integer and f is any fraction, and detecting means for detecting the radiation from said spatial filter means, as limited by said first and said second edges, to measure said dimension.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
The measuring apparatus of claim 7 including means for scanning an illuminated object having first and second surface areas relative to said spatial filter whereby said first and second edges, respectively, are scanned relative to said spatial filter, said detecting means further including means for sensing the time when said first edge passes one of said radiant areas relative to the time when said second edge passes another one of said radiant areas to thereby measure said dimension.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The measuring apparatus of claim 8 wherein said detecting means further includes means for detecting the quantum of light radiant from said spatial filter means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The measuring apparatus of claim 9 wherein said radiant areas and said non-radiant areas are spaced with equal widths side by side in a series array, and wherein the fraction f equals 1/2 .
Claim 16
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for inspecting articles comprising means for moving the articles successively and continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, means for illuminating a circular portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station, a spatial filter at said inspection station, a light-sensitive device, means for directing the modulated light after passage through said spatial filter onto said light-sensitive device, means creating a continuously modulating signal in response to the passage of the light to the light-sensitive device, means for comparing said modulated signal to a predetermined standard, and means for producing a reject signal when the modulated light signal exceeds the standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for inspecting articles comprising means for moving the articles successively and continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, means for illuminating a circular portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station, a spatial filter at said inspection station, a light-sensitive device, means for directing the modulated light after passage through said spatial filter onto said light-sensitive device, means creating a continuously modulating signal in response to the passage of the light to the light-sensitive device, means for comparing said modulated signal to a predetermined standard, and means for producing a reject signal when the modulated light signal exceeds the standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
118 words
an apparatus for inspecting articles comprising means for moving the articleS continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, means for illuminating a circular portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station, a spatial filter, a light-sensitive device at the inspection station, means for directing the modulated light after passage through said spatial filter onto said light-sensitive device, means for creating a continuously modulating signal in response to the passage of the light to the light-sensitive device, means for comparing said modulated signal to a predetermined standard, and means for producing a reject signal when the modulated light signal exceeds the standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
118 words
an apparatus for inspecting articles comprising means for moving the articleS continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, means for illuminating a circular portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station, a spatial filter, a light-sensitive device at the inspection station, means for directing the modulated light after passage through said spatial filter onto said light-sensitive device, means for creating a continuously modulating signal in response to the passage of the light to the light-sensitive device, means for comparing said modulated signal to a predetermined standard, and means for producing a reject signal when the modulated light signal exceeds the standard by a predetermined amount.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for inspecting the diameters of articles comprising means for moving the articles continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, means for illuminating a circular peripheral portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station at the area the diameter of which is to be inspected, means for causing the leading edge of the article as it is moved through the inspection station to produce a plurality of pulses, means for causing the trailing edge of the article as it is moved through the inspection station to produce a plurality of pulses, means for comparing at any instant the time between the leading edge and trailing edge signal, and means for creating a signal corresponding to said time.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for inspecting the diameters of articles comprising means for moving the articles continuously through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, means for illuminating a circular peripheral portion of the article as it is moved through the inspection station at the area the diameter of which is to be inspected, means for causing the leading edge of the article as it is moved through the inspection station to produce a plurality of pulses, means for causing the trailing edge of the article as it is moved through the inspection station to produce a plurality of pulses, means for comparing at any instant the time between the leading edge and trailing edge signal, and means for creating a signal corresponding to said time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 13 including the means for creating an inspecting pulse having a width corresponding to the diameter of the article, means for comparing the width of said pulse with the standard pulse, and means for creating a reject pulse when the inspecting pulse deviates from the standard pulse by a predetermined amount.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 14 including means for producing a signal which has an amplitude that varies in relation to the speed of the article through the inspection station, means for modifying the amplitude of said inspecting pulse in response to said last-mentioned pulse, means for comparing the amplitude of said modified inspecting pulse to the amplitude of said standard pulse, and means for creating a reject signal when the amplitude of said modified inspecting pulse exceeds the magnitude of said standard pulse by a predetermined amount.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an apparatus for inspecting articles, the combination comprising conveyor means for moving the articles continuously and successively through an inspection station and continually rotating the articles as they are moved through successive inspection stations, means at a first inspection station for illuminating a circular peripheral portion of the article, spatial filter means at said first inspection station having a grid spacing on which the illuminated image of the illuminated peripheral portion is directed, detector means for creating signals in response to passage of portions of the image through the spatial filter means, and means for creating an inspecting signal corresponding to the diameter of said peripheral portion, means at another inspection station for illuminating another peripherial portion of the article as it moves through said second station, spatial filter means at said second station having a grid spacing, detector means at said second station for creating a signal in response to variation of the image directed against said spatial filter means at said second station, and means for creating a signal when the last-mentioned detector means produces a signal beyond a predetermined value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an apparatus for inspecting articles, the combination comprising conveyor means for moving the articles continuously and successively through an inspection station and continually rotating the articles as they are moved through successive inspection stations, means at a first inspection station for illuminating a circular peripheral portion of the article, spatial filter means at said first inspection station having a grid spacing on which the illuminated image of the illuminated peripheral portion is directed, detector means for creating signals in response to passage of portions of the image through the spatial filter means, and means for creating an inspecting signal corresponding to the diameter of said peripheral portion, means at another inspection station for illuminating another peripherial portion of the article as it moves through said second station, spatial filter means at said second station having a grid spacing, detector means at said second station for creating a signal in response to variation of the image directed against said spatial filter means at said second station, and means for creating a signal when the last-mentioned detector means produces a signal beyond a predetermined value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein the grid spacing of said spatial filter means at said first station is at least equal to or less than the maximum permissible deviation in the diameter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein the grid spacing of said spatial filter means at said second station is at least equal to the minimum permissible deviation in the surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein the grid spacing of said spatial filter means at said first station extends transversely of the direction of movement of said article through said first inspection station.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein the grid spacing of said spatial filter means at said second station extends parallel to the direction of movement of said article through said second inspection station.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said detector means at said first station comprises a plurality of light-sensitive detectors, said detectors being arranged longitudinally along the direction of travel of the article, each detector having a dimension in the longitudinal direction in the direction of travel which is less than the nominal diameter of the article being inspected.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said detector means at said first station comprises a first set of detectors extending along the path of the article and a second set of detectors along the path of the article, said two sets of detectors being spaced longitudinally by a distance corresponding to the nominal dimension of the diameter of the article being inspected
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination set forth in claim 22 including means for cyclically activating each of said detectors in each set so that only one will be energized at a time to prevent false signals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The comination set forth in claim 16 including means responsive to the speed of the movement of the articles through the inspection station for producing a modifying signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an apparatus for inspecting articles, the combination comprising conveyor means for moving the articles continuously and successively through an inspection station and continually rotating the articles as they are moved through an inspection station, means for illuminating a circular peripheral portion of the article, spatial grid means at the inspection station on which the illuminated image of the illuminated peripheral portion is directed, detector means for creating signals in response to passage of portions of the image through the spatial grid means, and means for creating an inspecting signal responsive to the diameter of said peripheral portion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an apparatus for inspecting articles, the combination comprising conveyor means for moving the articles continuously and successively through an inspection station and continually rotating the articles as they are moved through an inspection station, means for illuminating a circular peripheral portion of the article, spatial grid means at the inspection station on which the illuminated image of the illuminated peripheral portion is directed, detector means for creating signals in response to passage of portions of the image through the spatial grid means, and means for creating an inspecting signal responsive to the diameter of said peripheral portion.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination set forth in claim 25 wherein the grid spacing of said spatial grid means is at least equal to or less than the maximum permissible deviation in the diameter.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination set forth in claim 25 wherein said spatial grid means extends transversely of the direction of movement of said article through said first inspection station.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination set forth in claim 25 wherein said detector means comprises a plurality of light-sensitive detectors, said detectors being arranged longitudinally along the direction of travel of the article, each detector having a dimension in the longitudinal direction in the direction of travel which is less than the nominal diameter of the article being inspected.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination set forth in claim 28 wherein said detector means comprises a first set of detectors extending along the path of the article and a second set of detectors along the path of the article, the two sets of detectors being spaced longitudinally by a distance corresponding to the nominal dimension of the diameter of the article being inspected.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination set forth in claim 29 including means for cyclically activating each of said detectors in each set so that only one will be energized at a time to prevent false signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination set forth in claim 25 including means responsive to the speed of the movement of the articles through the inspection station for modifying said inspecting signal in proportion to said speed.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of insPecting the finish of a hollow article made of translucent material which comprises directing a beam of radiant energy against the finish, positioning a light-sensitive element in the path of the illuminated image, positioning a spatial filter between the illuminated image and light-sensitive element, creating signals from the periphery of the finish in response to variations on the light-sensitive element, and creating an inspecting signal corresponding to the signals from the image.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of insPecting the finish of a hollow article made of translucent material which comprises directing a beam of radiant energy against the finish, positioning a light-sensitive element in the path of the illuminated image, positioning a spatial filter between the illuminated image and light-sensitive element, creating signals from the periphery of the finish in response to variations on the light-sensitive element, and creating an inspecting signal corresponding to the signals from the image.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
182 words
The method of inspecting the circular finish of a hollow article made of translucent material which comprises moving the articles continuously and successively through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, directing radiant energy against the article to illuminate the circular finish of the article, focusing an image of the illuminated finish on longitudinally spaced sets of light-sensitive elements, positioning spatial filters having grid rulings between the line of sight of the finish and the sets of light-sensitive elements with their rulings extending tranversely of the direction of the movement of the articles through the inspection station, causing one set of light-sensitive elements to produce a plurality of pulses corresponding to the leading edges of the image, causing the other set of light-sensitive elements to produce a plurality of pulses corresponding to the trailing edges of the image, generating a plurality of square waves having a width proportional to the displacement of the two sets of pulses, and integrating the square waves to produce a d.c. voltage proportional to the width of the square wave.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
182 words
The method of inspecting the circular finish of a hollow article made of translucent material which comprises moving the articles continuously and successively through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, directing radiant energy against the article to illuminate the circular finish of the article, focusing an image of the illuminated finish on longitudinally spaced sets of light-sensitive elements, positioning spatial filters having grid rulings between the line of sight of the finish and the sets of light-sensitive elements with their rulings extending tranversely of the direction of the movement of the articles through the inspection station, causing one set of light-sensitive elements to produce a plurality of pulses corresponding to the leading edges of the image, causing the other set of light-sensitive elements to produce a plurality of pulses corresponding to the trailing edges of the image, generating a plurality of square waves having a width proportional to the displacement of the two sets of pulses, and integrating the square waves to produce a d.c. voltage proportional to the width of the square wave.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method set forth in claim 33 including the step of producing a d.c. voltage corresponding to the velocity of the articles through the inspection station, and modifying the magnitude of the square waves in accordance with the variations of magnitude in the d.c. voltage from the velocity measurement.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
67 words
An apparatus for inspecting the finish of a hollow article made of translucent material which comprises means for directing a beam of radiant energy in a path against the finish, a light-sensitive element in the path of the beam, a spatial filter between the illuminated image and light-sensitive element, and means for creating an inspecting signal corresponding to the signals from the peripheral portions of the image.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
67 words
An apparatus for inspecting the finish of a hollow article made of translucent material which comprises means for directing a beam of radiant energy in a path against the finish, a light-sensitive element in the path of the beam, a spatial filter between the illuminated image and light-sensitive element, and means for creating an inspecting signal corresponding to the signals from the peripheral portions of the image.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 35 including means producing a d.c. voltage corresponding to the velocity of the articles through the inspection station, and means modifying the magnitude of the square waves in accordance with the variations of magnitude in the d.c. voltage from the velocity measurement.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for inspecting the circular finish of a hollow article made of translucent material comprising means for moving the articles continuously and successively through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, means for directing radiant energy against the article to illuminate the finish of the article, longitudinally spaced sets of light-sensitive elements, means for focusing an image of the illuminated finish on said longitudinally spaced sets of light-sensitive elements, spatial filters between the line of sight of the finish and the sets of light-sensitive elements with their rulings extending transversely of the direction of the movement of the articles through the inspection station, one set of light-sensitive elements producing a plurality of pulses corresponding to the leading edges of the image and the other set of light-sensitive elements producing a plurality of pulses corresponding to the trailing edges of the image, means for generating a plurality of square waves having a width proportional to the displacement of the two sets of pulses, and means integrating the square waves to produCe a d.c. voltage proportional to the width of the square wave.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus for inspecting the circular finish of a hollow article made of translucent material comprising means for moving the articles continuously and successively through an inspection station and rotating them as they are moved through the inspection station, means for directing radiant energy against the article to illuminate the finish of the article, longitudinally spaced sets of light-sensitive elements, means for focusing an image of the illuminated finish on said longitudinally spaced sets of light-sensitive elements, spatial filters between the line of sight of the finish and the sets of light-sensitive elements with their rulings extending transversely of the direction of the movement of the articles through the inspection station, one set of light-sensitive elements producing a plurality of pulses corresponding to the leading edges of the image and the other set of light-sensitive elements producing a plurality of pulses corresponding to the trailing edges of the image, means for generating a plurality of square waves having a width proportional to the displacement of the two sets of pulses, and means integrating the square waves to produCe a d.c. voltage proportional to the width of the square wave.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3094623A
Cited
US3365699A
Cited
US3436555A
Cited
US3283898A
Cited
US3448278A
Cited
US3519351A
Cited
US3620629A
Cited
US3586445A
Cited
US3639067A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |