Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
The method of automatically optically inspecting a moving web of glass for defects comprising the steps of: transversely scanning the moving web of glass with a light source, internally reflecting the scanning light source within the glass which travels toward the edges when it strikes defects within the web, capturing the light that leaves the glass on opposite edges of said glass web, detecting the captured light for converting the light to electrical signals, and determining whether defects are present in said glass web in accordance with the characteristics of said electrical signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
The method of automatically optically inspecting a moving web of glass for defects comprising the steps of: transversely scanning the moving web of glass with a light source, internally reflecting the scanning light source within the glass which travels toward the edges when it strikes defects within the web, capturing the light that leaves the glass on opposite edges of said glass web, detecting the captured light for converting the light to electrical signals, and determining whether defects are present in said glass web in accordance with the characteristics of said electrical signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of blocking ambient light from entering the edges of the glass web so that such ambient light is not captured with the internal reflected light.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
29 words
The method set forth in claims 1 or 2 including the step of tracking the horizontal and vertical motions of the glass web as the captured light is detected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
121 words
An automatic optical inspection system for inspecting a moving web of glass comprising: a light source, scanning means for scanning said light source orthogonally across said moving glass web, said light source being internally reflected within said glass web toward the edges thereof when said light source strikes a defect therein, collecting means positioned on opposite edges of said glass web for capturing the light emerging from the edges of said glass web, detector means having said collecting means coupled thereto for applying the radiation gathered by said collecting means to said detector means, said detector means generating electrical signals in accordance with the intensity of the light applied thereto which may be used for determining defects in the glass web.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
An automatic optical inspection system for inspecting a moving web of glass comprising: a light source, scanning means for scanning said light source orthogonally across said moving glass web, said light source being internally reflected within said glass web toward the edges thereof when said light source strikes a defect therein, collecting means positioned on opposite edges of said glass web for capturing the light emerging from the edges of said glass web, detector means having said collecting means coupled thereto for applying the radiation gathered by said collecting means to said detector means, said detector means generating electrical signals in accordance with the intensity of the light applied thereto which may be used for determining defects in the glass web.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The optical inspection system set forth in claim 4 in which said collecting means includes a mouth having movable jaws thereon which are adapted to be mounted on and conform generally with the configuration of the edges of said glass web.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optical inspection system set forth in claim 4 or 5 including tracking means coupled to said collecting means for directing said collecting means to follow the movements of said web.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical inspection system set forth in claim 5 in which said jaws have brushes mounted thereon for eliminating ambient air from the edges of the glass web when the jaws of said mouth are mounted thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical inspection system set forth in claim 4 in which at least one collecting means and detector means are mounted in a common housing and means in said housing for cooling said detector means.