Patent US5926558A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5926558A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for monitoring and inspecting rotary knives
Assignee: Andritz Asko Inc
•
Filing: 1996-01-05
•
Granted: 1999-07-20
•
Expires: 2016-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A method of monitoring and inspecting one or more operational characteristics of a knife includes providing at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames the knife, using the at least one image producer to form a first series of images of the knife while the knife is in use, and analyzing the first series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert R. Zelt, III
- 👤 Robert M. Klawonn
- 👤 Paul S. Laskey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0004; B; B23; B23D; B23D35/00; B23D35/005; B23D35/007; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10016; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30108; G06T2207/30164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of monitoring one or more operational characteristics of a knife, comprising the following steps: providing at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames the knife; using the at least one image producer to form a first series of images of the knife while the knife is in use; analyzing the first series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; forming one or more subsequent series of images of the knife while the knife is in use; generating one or more subsequent series of outputs from the one or more subsequent series of images; analyzing the one or more subsequent series of outputs to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; and using the first series of outputs and the one or more subsequent series of outputs to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of monitoring one or more operational characteristics of a knife, comprising the following steps: providing at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames the knife; using the at least one image producer to form a first series of images of the knife while the knife is in use; analyzing the first series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; forming one or more subsequent series of images of the knife while the knife is in use; generating one or more subsequent series of outputs from the one or more subsequent series of images; analyzing the one or more subsequent series of outputs to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; and using the first series of outputs and the one or more subsequent series of outputs to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of monitoring one or more operational characteristics of a knife, comprising the following steps: providing at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames an edge of a workpiece that has been processed by the knife; using the at least one image producer to form a first series of images of the workpiece edge after the edge has been processed by the knife; analyzing the first series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; forming one or more subsequent series of images of the workpiece edge after the edge has been processed by the knife; generating one or more subsequent series of outputs from the one or more subsequent series of images; analyzing the one or more subsequent series of outputs to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; and using the first series of outputs and the one or more subsequent series of outputs to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of monitoring one or more operational characteristics of a knife, comprising the following steps: providing at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames an edge of a workpiece that has been processed by the knife; using the at least one image producer to form a first series of images of the workpiece edge after the edge has been processed by the knife; analyzing the first series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; forming one or more subsequent series of images of the workpiece edge after the edge has been processed by the knife; generating one or more subsequent series of outputs from the one or more subsequent series of images; analyzing the one or more subsequent series of outputs to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; and using the first series of outputs and the one or more subsequent series of outputs to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for monitoring one or more operational characteristics of a knife, the apparatus comprising: at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames an edge of a workpiece that has been processed by the knife, said at least one image producer operable to form a first series of images of the workpiece edge after the edge has been processed by the knife; an analyzer connectively associated with said at least one image producer, said analyzer operable to determine in real time whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; wherein said at least one image producer is operable to form one or more subsequent series of images of the edge after the edge has been processed by the knife, and further wherein said analyzer is operable to analyze the one or more subsequent series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; and wherein said analyzer is further operable to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for monitoring one or more operational characteristics of a knife, the apparatus comprising: at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames an edge of a workpiece that has been processed by the knife, said at least one image producer operable to form a first series of images of the workpiece edge after the edge has been processed by the knife; an analyzer connectively associated with said at least one image producer, said analyzer operable to determine in real time whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; wherein said at least one image producer is operable to form one or more subsequent series of images of the edge after the edge has been processed by the knife, and further wherein said analyzer is operable to analyze the one or more subsequent series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; and wherein said analyzer is further operable to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for monitoring one or more operational characteristics of a knife, the apparatus comprising: at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames the knife, said at least one image producer operable to form a first series of images of the knife while the knife is in use; and an analyzer connectively associated with said at least one image producer, said analyzer operable to determine in real time whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; said at least one image producer being operable to form one or more subsequent series of images of the knife while the knife is in use, and further wherein said analyzer is operable to analyze the one or more subsequent series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; said analyzer further being operable to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for monitoring one or more operational characteristics of a knife, the apparatus comprising: at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames the knife, said at least one image producer operable to form a first series of images of the knife while the knife is in use; and an analyzer connectively associated with said at least one image producer, said analyzer operable to determine in real time whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; said at least one image producer being operable to form one or more subsequent series of images of the knife while the knife is in use, and further wherein said analyzer is operable to analyze the one or more subsequent series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; said analyzer further being operable to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
233 words
In combination, a rotary knife and an apparatus for monitoring one or more operational characteristics of said rotary knife, wherein: said rotary knife comprises a substantially uninterrupted cutting edge extending over a significant portion of the periphery of the knife; and said apparatus comprises: at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames the knife, said at least one image producer operable to form a first series of images of the knife while the knife is in use; said at least one image producer being adapted to view at least a portion of said cutting edge; and an analyzer connectively associated with said at least one image producer, said analyzer operable to determine in real time whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; said at least one image producer being operable to form one or more subsequent series of images of the knife while the knife is in use, and said analyzer further being operable to analyze the one or more subsequent series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; said analyzer further being operable to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
233 words
In combination, a rotary knife and an apparatus for monitoring one or more operational characteristics of said rotary knife, wherein: said rotary knife comprises a substantially uninterrupted cutting edge extending over a significant portion of the periphery of the knife; and said apparatus comprises: at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames the knife, said at least one image producer operable to form a first series of images of the knife while the knife is in use; said at least one image producer being adapted to view at least a portion of said cutting edge; and an analyzer connectively associated with said at least one image producer, said analyzer operable to determine in real time whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; said at least one image producer being operable to form one or more subsequent series of images of the knife while the knife is in use, and said analyzer further being operable to analyze the one or more subsequent series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; said analyzer further being operable to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
219 words
In combination, a rotary knife adapted to cut metal into strip and an apparatus for monitoring one or more operational characteristics of said rotary knife, the apparatus comprising: at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames an edge of a strip metal workpiece that has been cut by said rotary knife, said at least one image producer operable to form a first series of images of the workpiece edge after the edge has been cut via the knife; and an analyzer connectively associated with said at least one image producer, said analyzer operable to determine in real time whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; said at least one image producer being operable to form one or more subsequent series of images of the edge after the edge has been processed by the knife, and said analyzer further being operable to analyze the one or more subsequent series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; said analyzer further being operable to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
219 words
In combination, a rotary knife adapted to cut metal into strip and an apparatus for monitoring one or more operational characteristics of said rotary knife, the apparatus comprising: at least one image producer having a field of view that substantially frames an edge of a strip metal workpiece that has been cut by said rotary knife, said at least one image producer operable to form a first series of images of the workpiece edge after the edge has been cut via the knife; and an analyzer connectively associated with said at least one image producer, said analyzer operable to determine in real time whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within one or more preliminary operating parameters; said at least one image producer being operable to form one or more subsequent series of images of the edge after the edge has been processed by the knife, and said analyzer further being operable to analyze the one or more subsequent series of images to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; said analyzer further being operable to generate one or more standard operating parameters if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: comparing one or more second subsequent series of outputs to the one or more standard operating parameters; determining whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more standard operating parameters; and alerting an operator if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are not within the one or more standard operating parameters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one image producer provided in step (a) comprises two or more image producers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one image producer provided in step (a) comprises a camera.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first series of images formed in step (b) comprises a series of video images.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing comprises analyzing the first series of images in real-time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more operational characteristics of the knife is selected from the group consisting of: knife edge sharpness; knife edge integrity; knife concentricity; knife wobble; knife material pick-up; knife edge wear; and knife deflection.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the field of view of the at least one image producer provided in step (a) frames substantially an edge of the knife when the one or more operational characteristics is selected from the group consisting of: knife edge sharpness, knife edge wear, and knife edge integrity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more preliminary operating parameters of the knife is selected from the group consisting of: knife edge sharpness; knife edge integrity; knife concentricity; knife wobble; knife material pick-up; knife edge wear; and knife deflection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said analyzer is further operable to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more standard operating parameters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one image producer comprises two or more image producers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one image producer comprises a camera.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first series of images comprises a series of video images.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of analyzing comprises: generating a first series of outputs from the first series of images; comparing the first series of outputs to the one or more preliminary operating parameters; determining whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more preliminary operating parameters; and alerting an operator if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are not within the one or more preliminary operating parameters.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: comparing one or more second subsequent series of outputs to the one or more standard operating parameters; determining whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more standard operating parameters; and alerting an operator if the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are not within the one or more standard operating parameters.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one image producer provided in step (a) comprises two or more image producers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one image producer provided in step (a) comprises a camera.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first series of images formed in step (b) comprises a series of video images.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of analyzing comprises analyzing the first series of images in real-time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the one or more operational characteristics of the knife comprises knife edge integrity.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said analyzer is further operable to determine whether the one or more operational characteristics of the knife are within the one or more standard operating parameters.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said at least one image producer comprises two or more image producers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said at least one image producer comprises a camera.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first series of images comprises a series of video images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3312135A
Cited
US3730043A
Cited
US4539561A
Cited
US4700224A
Cited
US4667550A
Cited
US4845763A
Cited
US5115403A
Cited
US4878114A
Cited
US5132791A
Cited
US5255199A
Cited
US5361308A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-19 | 2003-01-18 | 2003-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-19 | 2007-01-18 | 2007-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-19 | 2011-01-18 | 2011-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |