US3746784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic defect detecting apparatus
Assignee: Ball Corp
•
Filing: 1971-08-16
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-08-16
Abstract
Abstract An assembly for detecting defects in articles of manufacture such as, for example, glassware is disclosed herein and includes a semi-diffused light source positioned adjacent one side of and optically distant from a glassware sample for illuminating the latter. A video camera is positioned on the other side of and scans the illuminated sample so as to produce a video signal indicative of the difference in refraction characteristics thereof, and thereby indicates the presence or absence of defects in the glassware sample. In the event there is a defect, an electrical processing circuit, connected with the video camera and responsive to the video signal, is provided for actuating a glassware reject mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Oosterhout J Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/8851; G01N21/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A device for detecting defects in glassware comprising: a light source for providing light rays to illuminate a glassware sample; camera means for scanning said illuminated sample and producing for each scan line a video signal indicative of the difference in the refraction characteristic of that portion of said sample then scanned including indications of the leading and trailing edges of said sample; and electrical circuit processing means connected to said camera means and responsive to said video signal for producing an output signal indicatiVe of a defect in said sample in the even that said video signal includes a predetermined refraction characteristic, said electrical circuit processing means including means for suppressing a predetermined portion of a video signal received from said camera means during each said scan line, including suppression of said indications of said leading and trailing edges, whereby said output signal indicative of a defect in said sample is produced only during the predetermined unsuppressed portion of a received video signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A device for detecting defects in glassware comprising: a light source for providing light rays to illuminate a glassware sample; camera means for scanning said illuminated sample and producing for each scan line a video signal indicative of the difference in the refraction characteristic of that portion of said sample then scanned including indications of the leading and trailing edges of said sample; and electrical circuit processing means connected to said camera means and responsive to said video signal for producing an output signal indicatiVe of a defect in said sample in the even that said video signal includes a predetermined refraction characteristic, said electrical circuit processing means including means for suppressing a predetermined portion of a video signal received from said camera means during each said scan line, including suppression of said indications of said leading and trailing edges, whereby said output signal indicative of a defect in said sample is produced only during the predetermined unsuppressed portion of a received video signal.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
136 words
A device for detecting defects in glassware comprising: a light source for providing light rays to illuminate a glassware sample; camera means for scanning said illuminated sample and producing a signal indicative of the difference in the refraction characteristic of that portion of said sample then scanned including signals indicative of the leading and trailing edges of said sample; signal detector means connected to said camera means and responsive to said signal for producing a pulsed signal for each sudden change in refraction of said illuminated sample; and means connected to said signal detector means for suppressing predetermined ones of said pulsed signals during each scan line, including said signals indicative of said leading and trailing edges of said sample, and for producing second pulsed signals in response to the remaining ones of said pulsed signals.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
136 words
A device for detecting defects in glassware comprising: a light source for providing light rays to illuminate a glassware sample; camera means for scanning said illuminated sample and producing a signal indicative of the difference in the refraction characteristic of that portion of said sample then scanned including signals indicative of the leading and trailing edges of said sample; signal detector means connected to said camera means and responsive to said signal for producing a pulsed signal for each sudden change in refraction of said illuminated sample; and means connected to said signal detector means for suppressing predetermined ones of said pulsed signals during each scan line, including said signals indicative of said leading and trailing edges of said sample, and for producing second pulsed signals in response to the remaining ones of said pulsed signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein said signal detector means includes a comparator circuit setup with hysteresis whereby to enhance the quality of said pulsed signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device according to claim 2 including signal timing means synchronized with the scan of said camera means for preventing said signal detector means from producing said pulsed signals during predetermined scanning periods of said camera means, said signal timing means including at least one multivibrator circuit having a capacitor circuit which charges substantially faster than it discharges whereby to attain high duty operation.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
214 words
A device for detecting defects in glassware comprising: a light source for providing light rays to illuminate a glassware sample; camera means for scanning said illuminated sample and during each horizontal scan line producing a first edge signal indicative of one edge of said sample, a second edge signal indicative of an opposite edge of said sample, and a defect signal in the event there is a defect in said sample; signal detector means connected to said camera means for producing a pulsed signal in response to each of said first edge signals, second edge signals and defect signals; signal timing means synchronized with the scan of said camera means and connected to said signal detector means for preventing said signal detector means from producing said pulsed signals for a predetermined period of time during the beginning of the horizontal and verical scan of said camera means and for a predetermined period of time during the end of the horizontal and vertical scan of said camera means; and edge detector and removal means connected to said signal det ctor means and said signal timing means for suppressing those pulsed signals representative of said first and second edge signals and producing an output pulse in response to those pulsed signals representative of said defect signals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
214 words
A device for detecting defects in glassware comprising: a light source for providing light rays to illuminate a glassware sample; camera means for scanning said illuminated sample and during each horizontal scan line producing a first edge signal indicative of one edge of said sample, a second edge signal indicative of an opposite edge of said sample, and a defect signal in the event there is a defect in said sample; signal detector means connected to said camera means for producing a pulsed signal in response to each of said first edge signals, second edge signals and defect signals; signal timing means synchronized with the scan of said camera means and connected to said signal detector means for preventing said signal detector means from producing said pulsed signals for a predetermined period of time during the beginning of the horizontal and verical scan of said camera means and for a predetermined period of time during the end of the horizontal and vertical scan of said camera means; and edge detector and removal means connected to said signal det ctor means and said signal timing means for suppressing those pulsed signals representative of said first and second edge signals and producing an output pulse in response to those pulsed signals representative of said defect signals.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
177 words
A device for detecting defects in an article comprising: a source of radiation for providing radiation to said article; detection means for scanning said radiated article and during each horizontal scan producing a first edge signal indicative of one edge of said article, asecond edge signal indicative of an opposite edge of said article and a defect signal in the event there is a defect in said article; signal detector means connected to said detection means for producing a pulsed signal in response to each of said first edge signals, second edge signals and defectsignals; signal timing means synchronized with the scan of said detection means and connected to said signal detector means for preventinG said signal detector means from producing said pulsed signal for a predetermined period of time during the beginning and end of the horizontal and vertical scan of said detection means; and edge detector and removal means connected to said signal detector means and said signal timing means for suppressing those pulsed signals representative of said one and opposite edges of said article.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
177 words
A device for detecting defects in an article comprising: a source of radiation for providing radiation to said article; detection means for scanning said radiated article and during each horizontal scan producing a first edge signal indicative of one edge of said article, asecond edge signal indicative of an opposite edge of said article and a defect signal in the event there is a defect in said article; signal detector means connected to said detection means for producing a pulsed signal in response to each of said first edge signals, second edge signals and defectsignals; signal timing means synchronized with the scan of said detection means and connected to said signal detector means for preventinG said signal detector means from producing said pulsed signal for a predetermined period of time during the beginning and end of the horizontal and vertical scan of said detection means; and edge detector and removal means connected to said signal detector means and said signal timing means for suppressing those pulsed signals representative of said one and opposite edges of said article.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
87 words
A device for detecting defects in an article comprising: a light source providing light rays for illuminating said article, said light source including masking means for allowing only those light rays emanating from the periphery of said light source to illuminate said article; detection means for detecting said illuminated article and producing a signal representing said article; and electrical circuit processing means connected to said detection means and responsive to said signal for producing an output signal in the event there is a defect in said article.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
87 words
A device for detecting defects in an article comprising: a light source providing light rays for illuminating said article, said light source including masking means for allowing only those light rays emanating from the periphery of said light source to illuminate said article; detection means for detecting said illuminated article and producing a signal representing said article; and electrical circuit processing means connected to said detection means and responsive to said signal for producing an output signal in the event there is a defect in said article.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for detecting defects in an article comprising a source of semi-diffused light positioned adjacent said article; lens means positioned between said semi-diffused light source and said article for directing the light rays emanating from said source onto said article in the same manner as if said source were substantially futther from said article; detection means for detecting said article and producing a signal indicative of the difference in illumination intensity thereof; and electrical circuit processing means connected to said detection means and responsive to said signal for producing an output signal inthe event there is a defect in said article.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for detecting defects in an article comprising a source of semi-diffused light positioned adjacent said article; lens means positioned between said semi-diffused light source and said article for directing the light rays emanating from said source onto said article in the same manner as if said source were substantially futther from said article; detection means for detecting said article and producing a signal indicative of the difference in illumination intensity thereof; and electrical circuit processing means connected to said detection means and responsive to said signal for producing an output signal inthe event there is a defect in said article.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for detecting defects in an article comprising: a radiation source for providing radiation to said article; detection means for scanning said article and during each scan line producing a first edge signal indicative of one edge of said article, a second edge signal indicative of a second edge of said article, and defect signals in the event there are defects in said article; and an electrical processing circuit including edge detector and removal means connected with said detection means for suppressing said first and second edge signals during each scan and providing output pulses in response to said defect signals.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
102 words
A device for detecting defects in an article comprising: a radiation source for providing radiation to said article; detection means for scanning said article and during each scan line producing a first edge signal indicative of one edge of said article, a second edge signal indicative of a second edge of said article, and defect signals in the event there are defects in said article; and an electrical processing circuit including edge detector and removal means connected with said detection means for suppressing said first and second edge signals during each scan and providing output pulses in response to said defect signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device according to claim 9 whereinsaid edge detector and removal means includes gating means providing said output pulses in response to said defect signals and inhibiting means connected to said gating means for preventing said gating means from providing output pulses in response to said first and second edge signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
90 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein said inhibiting means includes first pulse producing means responsive to a first edge signal for producing a first inhibiting signal of predetermined duration, said first inhibiting signal preventing said gating means from providing an output pulse in response to a first edge signal, and second pulse producing means responsive to a second edge signal for producing a second inhibiting signal of predetermined duration, said second inhibiting signal preventing said gating means from providing an output pulse in response to a second edge signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein said inhibiting means includes pulse producing and delay means receiving a second edge signal appearing on a given scan line and producing an inhibiting signal a predetermined period of time after receipt of said second edge signal for preventing said gating means from providing an output pulse in response to a second edge signal appearing on the scan line directly following said given scan line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said pulse producing and delay means includes at least one RC network responsive to the second edge signal appearing on said given scan line for providing said predetermined period of time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said pulse producing and delay means includes a first RC network responsive to the second edge signal appearIng on said given scan line for providing a first increment of time, and a second RC network responsive to said first RC network forproviding a second increment of time, said first and second increments of time comprising said predetermined period of time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
A pulse removal circuit for use with scan detector means which provides a detection pulse in response to detected subject matter, said pulse removal circuit comprising: means adapted to receive a detection pulse for producing an output pulse in response thereto; and delayed pulse producing means adapted to recive a detection pulse appearing on a given scanline and producing a signal of predetermined duration a predetermined period of time after the receipt of said detection pulse, said signal being applied to said output pulse producingmeans for preventing said output pulse producing means from producing an output pulse in response to a detection pulseappearing on the scan line directly following said given scan line.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
A pulse removal circuit for use with scan detector means which provides a detection pulse in response to detected subject matter, said pulse removal circuit comprising: means adapted to receive a detection pulse for producing an output pulse in response thereto; and delayed pulse producing means adapted to recive a detection pulse appearing on a given scanline and producing a signal of predetermined duration a predetermined period of time after the receipt of said detection pulse, said signal being applied to said output pulse producingmeans for preventing said output pulse producing means from producing an output pulse in response to a detection pulseappearing on the scan line directly following said given scan line.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
68 words
A pulse removal circuit according to claim 15 wherein said delayed pulse producing means includes a first RC network responsive to the detection pulse appearing on said given scan line for providing a first increment of time, and a second RC network responsive to said first RC network for providing a second increment of time, said first and second increments of time comprising said predetermined period of time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
A pulse removal circuit according to claim 16 wherein said delayed pulse producing means includes a comparator connected to said second RC network and responsive to the end of said second increment of time for producing said signal of predetermined duration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly according to claim 16 including reject means movable between a reject position and a non-reject position and means for moving said reject means from said non-reject position to said reject position in response to a reject signal provided during a given period of detection.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
An assembly according to claim 18 wherein said last-mentioned means includes means for maintaining said reject means in said reject position in response to a reject signal provided during a given period of detection and for moving said reject means from said reject position to said non-reject position in the absence of a reject signal during a given period of detection.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
91 words
An assembly for successively detecting a plurality of articles for defects, said assembly comprising: means for detecting said articles and providing a logic signal in the event that during a given period of detection only one complete article is detected and that a defect is detected in said article, and that during a directly preceding period of detection there was no article, more than one article, or less than one complete article detected; and means connected to said last-mentioned means for providing a reject signal in response to said logic signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
91 words
An assembly for successively detecting a plurality of articles for defects, said assembly comprising: means for detecting said articles and providing a logic signal in the event that during a given period of detection only one complete article is detected and that a defect is detected in said article, and that during a directly preceding period of detection there was no article, more than one article, or less than one complete article detected; and means connected to said last-mentioned means for providing a reject signal in response to said logic signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
101 words
An assembly for successively detecting a pluralityof articles for defects comprising: means for detecting each of said articles and providing a defect signal in the even that there is a defect in one of said detected articles, means for providing a logic signal in the event that one and only one complete article is detected; and means connected to said last-mentioned means for providing a reject signal in the even that said defect signal and said logic signal are present during a given period of detection and that said logic signal was not present during a directly preceding period of detection.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
101 words
An assembly for successively detecting a pluralityof articles for defects comprising: means for detecting each of said articles and providing a defect signal in the even that there is a defect in one of said detected articles, means for providing a logic signal in the event that one and only one complete article is detected; and means connected to said last-mentioned means for providing a reject signal in the even that said defect signal and said logic signal are present during a given period of detection and that said logic signal was not present during a directly preceding period of detection.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
435 words
An assembly for successively detecting a plurality of glassware articles for defects, said assembly comprising means for providing an instantaneous flash of light rays for illuminating each of said glassware articles; lens means positioned between said last-mentioned means and said article for directing the light rays onto said article in the same manner as if said source were substantially further from said article; video camera means for scanning said instantaneously illuminated article and during Each horizontal scan producing a first edge signal indicative of one edge of said article, a second edge signal indicative of an opposite edge of said article and a defect signal in the event there is a defect in said article; signal detector means connected to said video camera means for producing a pulsed signal in response to each of said first edge signal, second edge signal, and defect signal, said signal detection means including a comparator circuit setup with hysteresis whereby to enhance the quality of said signal; signal timing means synchronized with the scan of said camera means and connected to said signal detector means for preventing said signal detector means from producing said pulsed signals for a predetermined period of time during the beginning of the horizontal and vertical scan of said camera means and for a predetermined period of time during the end of the horizontal and vertical scan of said camera means, said signal timing means including at least one multivibrator circuit having a capacitor which charges substantially faster than it discharges whereby to obtain high operational duty; edge detector and removal means connected with said signal detector means and said signal timing means for suppressing those pulsed signals representative of said first and second edge signals and producing an output pulse in response to those pulsed signals representative of said defect signals; logic and classification means connected with said edge detector and removal means and said signal timing means and including circuit means for producing a first logic signal in the event that a single complete article is detected during a given period of detection and a second logic signal in the event that no article, less than one complete article or more than one complete article was detected during the directly preceding period of detection said logic and classification means producing a logic outputsignal in response to the presence of said output pulse, first logic signal and said second logic signal during said given period of detection; and reject gate activating means forproducing a gate activating signal in response to and a predetermined period of time after the production of said logic output signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
435 words
An assembly for successively detecting a plurality of glassware articles for defects, said assembly comprising means for providing an instantaneous flash of light rays for illuminating each of said glassware articles; lens means positioned between said last-mentioned means and said article for directing the light rays onto said article in the same manner as if said source were substantially further from said article; video camera means for scanning said instantaneously illuminated article and during Each horizontal scan producing a first edge signal indicative of one edge of said article, a second edge signal indicative of an opposite edge of said article and a defect signal in the event there is a defect in said article; signal detector means connected to said video camera means for producing a pulsed signal in response to each of said first edge signal, second edge signal, and defect signal, said signal detection means including a comparator circuit setup with hysteresis whereby to enhance the quality of said signal; signal timing means synchronized with the scan of said camera means and connected to said signal detector means for preventing said signal detector means from producing said pulsed signals for a predetermined period of time during the beginning of the horizontal and vertical scan of said camera means and for a predetermined period of time during the end of the horizontal and vertical scan of said camera means, said signal timing means including at least one multivibrator circuit having a capacitor which charges substantially faster than it discharges whereby to obtain high operational duty; edge detector and removal means connected with said signal detector means and said signal timing means for suppressing those pulsed signals representative of said first and second edge signals and producing an output pulse in response to those pulsed signals representative of said defect signals; logic and classification means connected with said edge detector and removal means and said signal timing means and including circuit means for producing a first logic signal in the event that a single complete article is detected during a given period of detection and a second logic signal in the event that no article, less than one complete article or more than one complete article was detected during the directly preceding period of detection said logic and classification means producing a logic outputsignal in response to the presence of said output pulse, first logic signal and said second logic signal during said given period of detection; and reject gate activating means forproducing a gate activating signal in response to and a predetermined period of time after the production of said logic output signal.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
94 words
A device for monitoring articles for predetermined characteristics comprising: camera means for scanning said articles and producing a video signal including components indicative of said characteristics if present and including components indicative of the leadingand trailing edges of said articles; and electrical circuit processing means connected to receive said video signal and responsive to said components thereof providing a signal indicative of the presence of said predetermined characteristics, said electrical circuit processing means including means for eliminating said components occurring during each scan line indicative of said leading and trailing edges of said article.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
94 words
A device for monitoring articles for predetermined characteristics comprising: camera means for scanning said articles and producing a video signal including components indicative of said characteristics if present and including components indicative of the leadingand trailing edges of said articles; and electrical circuit processing means connected to receive said video signal and responsive to said components thereof providing a signal indicative of the presence of said predetermined characteristics, said electrical circuit processing means including means for eliminating said components occurring during each scan line indicative of said leading and trailing edges of said article.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for monitoring articles for defects comprising: a radiation source for providing radiation to the then monitored article; means for scanning said articles and producing a video signal indicative of predetermined characteristics if present within that portion of said articles then scanned including indications of the leading and trailing edges of said articles; and electrical circuit processing means connected with said scanning means, said processing means including means for suppressing a predetermined portion of said video signal when received from said scanning means, including suppression of said indications of said first and second edges of said articles appearing on said scan line, and said processing means producing an output indicative of a defect in said article in response to an unsuppressed said video signal received from said scanning means.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for monitoring articles for defects comprising: a radiation source for providing radiation to the then monitored article; means for scanning said articles and producing a video signal indicative of predetermined characteristics if present within that portion of said articles then scanned including indications of the leading and trailing edges of said articles; and electrical circuit processing means connected with said scanning means, said processing means including means for suppressing a predetermined portion of said video signal when received from said scanning means, including suppression of said indications of said first and second edges of said articles appearing on said scan line, and said processing means producing an output indicative of a defect in said article in response to an unsuppressed said video signal received from said scanning means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |