Inspection apparatus
AssigneeLibbey-Owens-Ford Co.
InventorsRobert J. Bobel, II, Richard H. Blausey, Jr., Edward D. Floyd, Donald B. Hopings, Russell C. Retzloff, Andrew W. Rudolph
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inspection apparatus for determining the contours of sheet material, particularly glass sheets, comprising a checking fixture having a plurality of probe assemblies for determining the exact position of points along the sheet and the deviation, if any, of such measured points from reference points constituting the ideal contour. The probe assemblies generate linear signals transmitted to a controller which, in turn, converts such signals into data displayed on a video screen in selectively different forms.
Claims20
A probe assembly for use in a sheet contour inspecting apparatus comprising:
- an elongated body having at one end thereof a head portion provided with an axial bore therethrough, a removable probe disposed in said bore for axial movement therein, said probe having a sensing head at one end thereof protruding outwardly of said bore and engageable with a sheet to be checked, electric means releasably secured within said body for sensing the position of said probe and including means for generating an electrical signal proportionate to the axial position of said probe, said body having a cut-out section intermediate the opposite ends thereof for providing access to said sensing means, said sensing means including a reciprocal plunger coaxially aligned with said probe and engageable at one end thereof with the other end of said probe for movement, as a unit, therewith, a movable piston mounted within said body adjacent the other end thereof, the other end of said plunger extending into said piston, said piston being formed with a slot permitting lateral withdrawal of said plunger other end from said piston when withdrawing said sensing means through said cut-out section for easy removal and replacement.
Apparatus for checking the contour of sheet material comprising:
- a fixture having a rail formed with a contoured surface conforming to the ideal contour desired, a plurality of spaced probe assemblies mounted on said fixture, each of said assemblies having a probe extensible through an opening in said contoured surface for engagement with a sheet, means for supporting said sheet above said contoured surface, means responsive to the placement of a sheet on said supporting means for lowering the same to deposit said sheet on said contoured surface, means for moving said probes into contact with said sheet, said probe assemblies including electrical sensing means for generating electrical signals corresponding to the positions of the associated probes thereof, each said probe assembly having a body housing said probe and said sensing means and formed with a cut-out section providing access to said sensing means for lateral withdrawal thereof from said body through said cut-out section for easy removal and replacement, and control means converting said several electrical signals of said probe assemblies into display indicia commensurate with the magnitudes of said signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.