Intec Inc.

Frank A Slaker

Monty M Merlen

A laser scanning flaw direction inspection system is provided for simultaneously scanning a plurality of laser sources across a moving web of material being inspected. The plurality of laser beams are simultaneously scanned utilizing a common scanning apparatus. Laser beam radiation from the plurality of laser sources is collected from the web of material being inspected and detected for generating signals based on the integrity of the radiation applied to the detector from the material being inspected. The plurality of laser sources are preferably of different wave lengths, may have different spot sizes and may be separated by a fixed distance in either the scanned direction or in the direction of web travel. By providing such flexibility in size, positioning and wavelength, and using optical filters to separate the signals related to each of the sources, different types of flaws as well as different information may be generated which would not be possible using a single source system.

Multiple source laser scanning inspection system

A web of moving material is successively scanned by a light source, such as a laser beam, and changes of intensity of the transmitted, reflected or scattered light from the material is detected to provide an indication for discerning flaws in the web. A once per scan line digital signal from the scanner controls a voltage controlled oscillator connected in a phased locked loop which is used for controlling the generation of a precision ramp analog voltage that follows the angular scan position of the light source on the material. The light signal from the web is applied to a comparator for providing a digital pedestal signal in which the first light passing the comparator is the leading edge of the web while the last light passing during a scan line is the trailing edge or the end of the web. If no pedestal signal is present indicative of a break in the web, a synthetic maximum width pedestal signal is substituted to enable the inspection system to continue to function. The digital pedestal signal or synthetic maximum width pedestal signal and the precision ramp are applied to leading and trailing edge, position-to-voltage converters. The precision ramp voltage is sampled and held by the voltage converters which generate leading and trailing edge position analog voltage outputs. These voltage outputs are applied to a leading and trailing edge cross web, down web position tracking rate filter which is controlled by edge position tracking rate and web speed circuits. The filtered leading and trailing edge outputs are applied to margin set circuits and then are converted by voltage-to-edge, position converter circuits into digital active scan pulses that accurately define and track the active scan interval of interest where flaws are to be detected.

Method and apparatus for a web edge tracking flaw detection system

A rotary scan flaw detection system is provided in which a record medium is driven synchronously with the scanning of a source of radiation across the surface of material being examined for flaws. A method and apparatus are provided for dividing the material into discrete segments or strips so that flaw information obtained from scanning the material may be sorted and routed pursuant to a predetermined plan. A grating is scanned having predetermined marks thereon which are recorded on the record medium. The material is then scanned, the marks played back, and fed to a data routing logic circuitry along with the flaw information derived from the surface of the material being examined, so that the flaw information is automatically routed in accordance with the occurrence of flaws on discrete segments of the material.

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Norwalk, CT, United States of America

Frank A Slaker