System for detecting small holes in moving articles
AssigneeHarris Instrument Corporation
InventorDavid E. Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A small hole detection system which detects small holes in fast moving sheets of material. An array of LEDs is pulsed from an emitter which is aligned with an array of photocells positioned to detect light emitting from the emitter. The receiver sends a signal to a processing unit when light is detected. The small hole detection system may include an auto-shuttering mechanism which automatically adjusts the system according to the width of the material being scanned.
Claims16
A method of detecting small holes in moving sheet materials, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning an array of emitting devices a distance from a surface of material being scanned;
- (b) positioning a receiver a stand-off distance from an opposite side of said material being scanned, said receiver responsive to output emitted from said emitting devices;
- (c) automatically adjusting said array of emitting devices for different strip widths being scanned, wherein automatically adjusting said array of emitting devices includes:
- (i) energizing all of the emitting devices in said array;
- and
- (ii) deactivating a group of emitting devices of said array of emitting devices if output emitted by said group of emitting devices is detected by said receiver;
- (d) sequentially energizing said array of emitting devices, excluding said group of emitting devices;
- (e) providing a signal when said receiver detects said output emitted from said emitting devices;
- and
- (f) processing said signal to obtain small hole detection information.
A system for detecting small holes in moving sheet products, comprising:
- an array of LEDs, said array divided into two sections;
- a circuit in electric communication with said array of LEDs for alternately energizing said two sections of said array of LEDs;
- and
- an array of photocells positioned across from said array of LEDs for detecting light emitted from said array of LEDs.
A method of detecting small holes in moving sheet materials, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning an array of emitting devices a distance from a surface of material being scanned;
- (b) positioning a receiver a stand-off distance from an opposite side of said material being scanned, said receiver responsive to output emitted from said emitting devices;
- (c) sequentially energizing said array of emitting devices;
- (d) providing a SYNC signal after energizing said array of emitting devices;
- (e) providing a signal when said receiver detects said output emitted from said emitting devices;
- (f) processing said signal to obtain small hole detection information;
- (g) monitoring said SYNC signal to insure said SYNC signal is regular and uninterrupted;
- and
- (h) activating a Fail-Safe indicator lamp when said SYNC signal is regular and uninterrupted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.