Strip inspecting apparatus and associated method

Claim 1

Apparatus for inspecting strip including strip supply means for providing said strip, inspection means for monitoring a plurality of properties of said strip, transport means for passing said strip by said inspection means, said inspection means having signal generating means for emitting signals related to the properties being monitored when said strip passes thereby, signal processing means for receiving said signals and emitting a responsive error signal when one of said properties in a portion of said strip departs from predetermined property limits, strip marking means for providing markings in one or more of a plurality of longitudinal zones on said strip responsive to said error signals with each said zone representing a particular type of defect and said markings being placed within the longitudinal section of said strip wherein said defect exists, fabricating equipment for converting the marked strip into fabricated products, feed means for feeding said marked strip into said fabricating equipment, and mark decoder means for providing an indication of what defects exist in portions of the strip passing adjacent thereto.

Claim 5

A method of inspecting strip including providing inspection means for monitoring a plurality of strip properties and emitting signals responsive to departures in said strip properties from predetermined levels, marking said strip in a plurality of longitudinal zones each related to a particular strip property when a defect in said property exists, effecting said marking within a section of said strip wherein said defects in strip properties exist, providing metal strip as said strip, providing means for effecting said marking, determining the position of an edge of said strip, positioning said marking means with respect to said strip edge so as to provide said stripped zones in the desired locations, providing marking means for effecting said marking, determining the position of an edge of said strip, positioning said marking means with respect to said strip edge so as to provide said strip zones in the desired locations, effecting said marking by means extending in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal extent of said strip, providing metal fabricating equipment for converting said marked strip into fabricated products, feeding said marked strip to said equipment, and monitoring the markings on said strip prior to introduction of said strip into said equipment to determine what defects exist and in what portions of said strip.

Claim 6

A method of inspecting strip including providing inspection means for monitoring a plurality of strip properties and emitting signals responsive to departures in said strip properties from predetermined levels, marking said strip in a plurality of longitudinal zones each related to a particular strip property when a defect in said property exists, effecting said marking within a section of said strip wherein said defects in strip properties exist, providing metal strip as said strip, providing means for effecting said marking, determining the position of an edge of said strip, positioning said marking means with respect to said strip edge so as to provide said stripped zones in the desired locations, providing marking means for effecting said marking, determining the position of an edge of said strip, positioning said marking means with respect to said strip edge so as to provide said strip zones in the desired locations, effecting said marking by means extending in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal extent of said strip, providing metal fabricating equipment for converting said marked strip into fabricated products, feeding said marked strip to said equipment, and monitoring the markings on said strip prior to introduction of said strip into said equipment to determine what defects exist and in what portions of said strip.