US 4,758,888 A · Method of and means for inspecting workpieces traveling along a production line

Abstract

Inspection of workpieces traveling along a production line includes on-line inspection of the workpieces at an upstream inspection station to detect possible flaws without interrupting the progression of workpieces along the production line. Possible flaws in the inspected workpieces are imaged, and images of possible flaws are stored in a memory in a way that associates a stored image with the workpiece containing the possible flaw. Off-line, a stored image is retrieved from the memory before the workpiece with which the image is associated reaches a downstream sorting station. The retrieved image is displayed on a monitor for verifying, by visual inspection, whether the possible flaw in the workpiece with which the retrieved image is associated, is valid. Workpieces are diverted at the downstream sorting station in response to vertification of flaws.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for inspecting individual workpieces progressing along a production line comprising the steps of:

(a) on-line inspecting the workpieces at an upstream inspection station to detect possible flaws without interrupting a progression of the workpieces along said production line;
(b) imaging possible flaws in inspected workpieces;
(c) storing images of possible flaws in a memory in a way that associates a stored image with the workpiece containing the possible flaw;
(d) retrieving a stored image from the memory before the workpiece with which the image is associated reaches a downstream sorting station;
(e) displaying the retrieved image on a monitor for verifying, by visual inspection, whether the possible flaw in the workpiece with which the retrieved image is associated, is valid;
and
(f) diverting workpieces at said downstream sorting station in response to verification of flaws.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of and means for inspecting workpieces traveling along a production line

Life of this patent

Method of and means for inspecting workpieces traveling along a production line

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15