US 5,568,263 AGranted

Non-contact inspection system

AssigneeMectron Engineering Company, Inc.

InventorJames L. Hanna

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Abstract

An improved non-contact inspection system capable of evaluating spatial form parameters of a workpiece to provide 100% inspection of parts in production. The system causes parts to be sequentially loaded onto an incline track where they pass through a test section. The test section includes a length detection array for measuring the length of the workpiece, which includes a source generating a sheet of light oriented in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece. The profile of the parts are evaluated by one or more light sources also creating a sheet of light oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the parts. First and second pairs of single channel photodetectors are provided for each of the light sources which provides a pair of analog outputs of the extent to which each sheet of light is occluded by the part, as well as an ability to eliminate noise or scintillation caused by a point source of light, for example with a laser light source. These outputs are analyzed through appropriate signal processing hardware and software to generate length and profile data related to the workpiece geometry.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An inspection system for evaluating workpieces for conformance to configuration criteria, comprising:

track means for causing said workpieces to translate through a test section said track means including a slit in said test section,
said test section including a light source for producing a sheet of light having a width greater than its thickness, said light source oriented with respect to said track means such that said sheet of light passes through said slit without being occluded by said track means and said workpieces pass through said sheet of light upon passing through said test section, said sheet of light oriented such that said width is perpendicular to the direction of translation of said workpieces through said test section, said test section further having a first and second photodetector constructed and arranged side-by-side which in combination receive said sheet of light wherein the portion of the sheet of light received by each of said first and second photodetectors is partially occluded and provides a first and second single channel output signal each related to the intensity of said sheet of light incident on each of said photodetectors whereby said intensity is related to the degree to which said sheet of light is occluded by said workpieces over said respective adjacent first and second photodetectors as said workpieces translate through said test section, and
signal processing means for receiving said first and second single channel photodetector output signals and for producing a value related to the section thickness of said workpieces as measured perpendicular to the direction of said translation.

An inspection system for evaluating workpieces for conformance to configuration criteria, comprising:

track means for causing said workpieces to translate through a test section said track means including a slit in said test section,
said test section including a first light source for producing a first sheet of light having a greater than its thickness, said first light source oriented with respect to said track means such that said workpieces pass through first said sheet of light upon passing through said test section, said first sheet of light oriented such that said length is parallel to the direction of translation of said workpieces through said test section, said test section further having a first photodetector for receiving said first sheet of light and providing an output signal related to the intensity of said first sheet of light incident on said first photodetector, whereby said intensity is related to the degree to which said first sheet of light is occluded by said workpieces as said workpieces translate through said test section, said test section including a second light source for producing a second sheet of light having a length greater than its thickness, said second light source oriented with respect to said track means such that said sheet of light passes through said slit without being occluded by said track means and said workpieces pass through said second sheet of light upon passing through said test section, said second sheet of light oriented such that said length is perpendicular to the direction of translation of said workpieces through said test section, said test section further having a second and third photodetector for receiving said second sheet of light and providing an output signal related to the intensity of said second sheet of light incident on said second and third photodetectors, respectively, whereby said intensity is related to the degree to which said second sheet of light is occluded by said workpieces as said workpieces translate through said test section, and
signal processing means for receiving said first, second, and third photodetector output signals and for producing values related to the length of said workpieces as measured in the direction of said translation and the cross-sectional configuration of said workpieces as measured perpendicular to said direction of translation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/369,360Filed 6 Jan 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 19 Apr 1993
Granted: 22 Oct 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G01N 21/952
Characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined: inspecting the exterior surface of cylindrical bodies or wires
G01B 11/2425
For measuring contours or curvatures: of screw-threads
G01B 11/245
For measuring contours or curvatures: using a plurality of fixed, simultaneously operating transducers
G01N
Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties