Apparatus for inspecting strip material

Claim 1

An apparatus for inspecting a traveling film or tape material so as to detect areas of excessive thickness of predetermined length due to defective splices or the presence of adhesive tape, or the like, which constitute objectionable defects, said apparatus comprising an inspection station having a support means for the material with spaced members providing narrow curved surfaces extending in the direction of travel on which the material advances so that major portions thereof are unsupported and the material is bowed outwardly of said support means, drive means for advancing the material along said support means, a light source, a light transmitting fiber optic cable having its receiving end exposed to said light source and its emitting end supported at said inspection station in a position to direct a controlled beam of light in a predetermined direction lengthwise of the path of travel and in a plane normal to the curved surfaces of said support means so as to strike an area of the surface of the material traversing said support means whereby a predetermined increase in the effective thickness of the material due to an objectionable defect as it traverses the curved path at the inspection station will interfere with the projection of the light beam, a light actuated sensor means having an element mounted at said inspection station in a position to receive at least a portion of the light beam when the effective thickness of the material is within predetermined limits, said light sensor means being responsive to produce an output signal in response to changes in the light beam which result from interference with the projection of the light beam by the presence of an area of excessive thickness extending for a predetermined distance along the traveling material and constituting an objectionable defect in the material, and control means for said material driving means which is responsive to said output signal oF said light sensor means so as to automatically stop the material drive means when material is presented at the inspection station which has an area of excessive thickness constituting an objectionable defect.

Claim 2

An apparatus for inspecting a traveling film or tape material so as to detect areas of excessive thickness of predetermined length due to defective splices or the presence of adhesive tape, or the like, which constitute objectionable defects, said apparatus comprising an inspection station having a support means for the material with spaced members providing narrow curved surfaces extending in the direction of travel on which the material advances so that major portions thereof are unsupported and the material is bowed outwardly of said support means, drive means for advancing the material along said support means, a light source, a light transmitting fiber optic cable having its receiving end exposed to said light source and its emitting end supported at said inspection station in a position to direct a controlled beam of light in a predetermined direction lengthwise of the path of travel and in a plane normal to the curved surfaces of said support means so as to strike an area of the surface of the material traversing said support means whereby a predetermined increase in the effective thickness of the material due to an objectionable defect as it traverses the curved path at the inspection station will interfere with the projection of the light beam, a light actuated sensor means having an element mounted at said inspection station in a position to receive at least a portion of the light beam when the effective thickness of the material is within predetermined limits, said light sensor means being responsive to produce an output signal in response to changes in the light beam which result from interference with the projection of the light beam by the presence of an area of excessive thickness extending for a predetermined distance along the traveling material and constituting an objectionable defect in the material, and control means for said material driving means which is responsive to said output signal oF said light sensor means so as to automatically stop the material drive means when material is presented at the inspection station which has an area of excessive thickness constituting an objectionable defect.

Claim 3

An apparatus for inspecting a traveling film or tape material so as to detect areas of excessive thickness of predetermined length due to defective splices or the presence of adhesive tape, or the like, which constitute objectionable defects, said apparatus comprising an inspection station having a support means for the material with spaced members providing narrow curved surfaces extending in the direction of travel on which the material advances so that major portions thereof are unsupported and the material is bowed outwardly of said support means, drive means for advancing the material along said support means, a light source, a light transmitting fiber optic cable having its receiving end exposed to said light source and its emitting end supported at said inspection station in a position to direct a controlled beam of light in a predetermined direction lengthwise of the path of travel and in a plane normal to the curved surfaces of said support means so as to strike an area of the surface of the material traversing said support means whereby a predetermined increase in the effective thickness of the material due to an objectionable defect as it traverses the curved path at the inspection station will interfere with the projection of the light beam, a light actuated sensor means having an element mounted at said inspection station in a position to receive at least a portion of the light beam when the effective thickness of the material is within predetermined limits, said light sensor means being responsive to produce an output signal in response to changes in the light beam which result from interference with the projection of the light beam by the presence of an area of excessive thickness extending for a predetermined distance along the traveling material and constituting an objectionable defect in the material, and control means for said material driving means which is responsive to said output signal oF said light sensor means so as to automatically stop the material drive means when material is presented at the inspection station which has an area of excessive thickness constituting an objectionable defect.

Claim 4

An apparatus for inspecting a traveling film or tape material so as to detect areas of excessive thickness of predetermined length due to defective splices or the presence of adhesive tape, or the like, which constitute objectionable defects, said apparatus comprising an inspection station having a support means for the material with spaced members providing narrow curved surfaces extending in the direction of travel on which the material advances so that major portions thereof are unsupported and the material is bowed outwardly of said support means, drive means for advancing the material along said support means, a light source, a light transmitting fiber optic cable having its receiving end exposed to said light source and its emitting end supported at said inspection station in a position to direct a controlled beam of light in a predetermined direction lengthwise of the path of travel and in a plane normal to the curved surfaces of said support means so as to strike an area of the surface of the material traversing said support means whereby a predetermined increase in the effective thickness of the material due to an objectionable defect as it traverses the curved path at the inspection station will interfere with the projection of the light beam, a light actuated sensor means having an element mounted at said inspection station in a position to receive at least a portion of the light beam when the effective thickness of the material is within predetermined limits, said light sensor means being responsive to produce an output signal in response to changes in the light beam which result from interference with the projection of the light beam by the presence of an area of excessive thickness extending for a predetermined distance along the traveling material and constituting an objectionable defect in the material, and control means for said material driving means which is responsive to said output signal oF said light sensor means so as to automatically stop the material drive means when material is presented at the inspection station which has an area of excessive thickness constituting an objectionable defect.

Claim 5

An apparatus for inspecting a traveling strip of film or tape material so as to detect areas of excessive thickness extending along the length of the material, torn edge portions or the like, which constitute objectionable defects, said apparatus comprising a support member having a curved guide surface over which the strip material is advanced, drive means for advancing the material over said support member so that the outermost surface advances along a path which is curved outwardly in the direction of travel and a defect sensing device mounted adjacent said support member which includes a light beam emitting member arranged to direct a controlled beam of light, at least in part, in the direction of the surface of the traveling strip material as it advances along said outwardly curved path and a light sensor means which produces an output signal in response to changes in the light received, said light beam emitting member and said sensor means being disposed in spaced relation in a longitudinal plane which is normal to said curved surface and having light emitting and light receiving faces, respectively, which faces are positioned relative to curved surface areas of the material advancing over said guide surface and to each other so that the light intensity received by the sensor means will be constant when the strip material presents a normal surface condition and when an area of excessive thickness constituting an objectionable defect of a predetermined character which changes the surface condition reaches said support member the light intensity received by said sensor means will be changed according to the change in the material surface, and means for controlling said drive means which is operated by said outoput signal when said output signal is produced in response to a change in the light received by said sensor means.

Claim 6

An apparatus for inspecting a traveling strip of film or tape material so as to detect areas of excessive thickness extending along the length of the material, torn edge portions or the like, which constitute objectionable defects, said apparatus comprising a support member having a curved guide surface over which the strip material is advanced, drive means for advancing the material over said support member so that the outermost surface advances along a path which is curved outwardly in the direction of travel and a defect sensing device mounted adjacent said support member which includes a light beam emitting member arranged to direct a controlled beam of light, at least in part, in the direction of the surface of the traveling strip material as it advances along said outwardly curved path and a light sensor means which produces an output signal in response to changes in the light received, said light beam emitting member and said sensor means being disposed in spaced relation in a longitudinal plane which is normal to said curved surface and having light emitting and light receiving faces, respectively, which faces are positioned relative to curved surface areas of the material advancing over said guide surface and to each other so that the light intensity received by the sensor means will be constant when the strip material presents a normal surface condition and when an area of excessive thickness constituting an objectionable defect of a predetermined character which changes the surface condition reaches said support member the light intensity received by said sensor means will be changed according to the change in the material surface, and means for controlling said drive means which is operated by said outoput signal when said output signal is produced in response to a change in the light received by said sensor means.

Claim 10

An apparatus for inspecting a traveling film or tape material so as to detect areas of more than normal thickness resulting from splices of excessive length and/or the presence on the material of pieces of tape exceeding a predetermined length, which apparatus comprises an inspection station having a support meAns for the material with spaced members providing narrow curved surfaces extending in the direction of travel on which the material advances so that major portions thereof are unsupported, a light source, a light transmitting fiber optic cable having its receiving end exposed to said light source and its emitting end supported at said inspection station in a position to direct a controlled beam of light into the path of the traveling material so that a predetermined increase in the effective thickness of the material at the inspection station will deflect at least a portion of the light beam, a light actuated sensor means having an element mounted at said inspection station in a position to receive a predetermined portion of the light beam when the effective thickness of the material is within predetermined limits, said light sensor means producing an output signal in response to changes in the light beam due to the presence of an area of excessive thickness extending a predetermined distance along the length of the material resulting from a splice of excessive length or the presence of a piece of tape exceeding a length corresponding to said predetermined distance, means for driving the material and control means for said material driving means which is responsive to said output signal so as to automatically stop the travel of the material when there is a splice or piece of tape presented at the inspection station exceeding a length corresponding to said predetermined distance.

Claim 11

An apparatus for inspecting a traveling film or tape material so as to detect areas of more than normal thickness resulting from splices of excessive length and/or the presence on the material of pieces of tape exceeding a predetermined length, which apparatus comprises an inspection station having a support meAns for the material with spaced members providing narrow curved surfaces extending in the direction of travel on which the material advances so that major portions thereof are unsupported, a light source, a light transmitting fiber optic cable having its receiving end exposed to said light source and its emitting end supported at said inspection station in a position to direct a controlled beam of light into the path of the traveling material so that a predetermined increase in the effective thickness of the material at the inspection station will deflect at least a portion of the light beam, a light actuated sensor means having an element mounted at said inspection station in a position to receive a predetermined portion of the light beam when the effective thickness of the material is within predetermined limits, said light sensor means producing an output signal in response to changes in the light beam due to the presence of an area of excessive thickness extending a predetermined distance along the length of the material resulting from a splice of excessive length or the presence of a piece of tape exceeding a length corresponding to said predetermined distance, means for driving the material and control means for said material driving means which is responsive to said output signal so as to automatically stop the travel of the material when there is a splice or piece of tape presented at the inspection station exceeding a length corresponding to said predetermined distance.

Claim 22

A system for inspecting traveling tape material so as to detect defects therein which tape material is in the form of movie film, video and audio tape and like material and which is subject to damage in use such as, tearing and improper splicing resulting in areas of excessive thickness which constitute undesirable defects, said system comprising means forming an inspection station, a support member at said station having an outwardly bowed surface, means for advancing the material over said bowed surface, an inspection head disposed in opposed relation to the bowed support surface, a light beam emitting member mounted in said inspection head so as to direct a beam of light in the direction of the outwardly bowed exposed surface of the tape material such that the light beam will emerge from said surface at least in part aLong a first light path when the material is without defects, a light actuated sensor mounted in said head with a light receiving face positioned in predetermined relation to said exposed surface so that the light intensity received by said sensor is dependent upon the condition of said exposed surface and changes therein due to presence of defects of predetermined character will cause the sensor, to produce an output signal and means connected to the sensor which is operative in response to said output signal to indicate the presence of the defect.

Claim 23

A system for inspecting traveling tape material so as to detect defects therein which tape material is in the form of movie film, video and audio tape and like material and which is subject to damage in use such as, tearing and improper splicing resulting in areas of excessive thickness which constitute undesirable defects, said system comprising means forming an inspection station, a support member at said station having an outwardly bowed surface, means for advancing the material over said bowed surface, an inspection head disposed in opposed relation to the bowed support surface, a light beam emitting member mounted in said inspection head so as to direct a beam of light in the direction of the outwardly bowed exposed surface of the tape material such that the light beam will emerge from said surface at least in part aLong a first light path when the material is without defects, a light actuated sensor mounted in said head with a light receiving face positioned in predetermined relation to said exposed surface so that the light intensity received by said sensor is dependent upon the condition of said exposed surface and changes therein due to presence of defects of predetermined character will cause the sensor, to produce an output signal and means connected to the sensor which is operative in response to said output signal to indicate the presence of the defect.

Claim 24

An apparatus for inspecting traveling movie film or similar strip material so as to detect sprocket hole enlargement and similar defects, said apparatus comprising an inspection station having a support means for the material which provides relatively narrow, laterally spaced, curved surfaces on which the material advances with major portions thereof unsupported, means for advancing the material over said surfaces, a light source, a light beam transmitting conduit having its receiving end exposed to said light source and its opposite end supported at said inspection station in a position to direct a beam of light toward said support means so that there is a spot of light of predetermined size projected onto the curved surface of the material at the inspection station, a pair of light actuated sensors mounted at said inspection station outboard of said material support means and on opposite sides of said beam transmitting conduit in a plane which is normal to the surface of the material to be inspected, each said sensor being positioned at an angle to the beam transmitting conduit so as to receive a portion of the light beam which is reflected from spaced points on said surface under normal conditions, said light sensors being responsive to changes in the light reflected resulting from interruption of the reflected portions of the beam due to the appearance of a hole in the material exceeding a predetermined dimension in the direction of advance of the material and control means for the material advancing means which is responsive to operation of said light sensor means so as to automatically stop the advance of the material when a hole exceeding a predetermined size is presented at the inspection station.

Claim 25

An apparatus for inspecting traveling movie film or similar strip material so as to detect sprocket hole enlargement and similar defects, said apparatus comprising an inspection station having a support means for the material which provides relatively narrow, laterally spaced, curved surfaces on which the material advances with major portions thereof unsupported, means for advancing the material over said surfaces, a light source, a light beam transmitting conduit having its receiving end exposed to said light source and its opposite end supported at said inspection station in a position to direct a beam of light toward said support means so that there is a spot of light of predetermined size projected onto the curved surface of the material at the inspection station, a pair of light actuated sensors mounted at said inspection station outboard of said material support means and on opposite sides of said beam transmitting conduit in a plane which is normal to the surface of the material to be inspected, each said sensor being positioned at an angle to the beam transmitting conduit so as to receive a portion of the light beam which is reflected from spaced points on said surface under normal conditions, said light sensors being responsive to changes in the light reflected resulting from interruption of the reflected portions of the beam due to the appearance of a hole in the material exceeding a predetermined dimension in the direction of advance of the material and control means for the material advancing means which is responsive to operation of said light sensor means so as to automatically stop the advance of the material when a hole exceeding a predetermined size is presented at the inspection station.