Other

Teradyne, Inc.

Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.

Cafepress.com

Landrex Technologies Co., Ltd.

Visicon Inspection Technologies LLC

Visicon Technologies, Inc.

John Burnett

Daniel Freifeld

Douglas W Raymond

Richard Pye

John Roberts

George Linscott

Eric Aldrich

Minh Chau Ngo

Lyle Sherwood

An inspection system that is effective to collect images of a part under inspection. This inspection system includes (a) a three axis linear motion stage; (b) a rotary fourth axis stage configured to hold and rotate an object to be inspected. This rotary fourth axis stage is mounted on the three axis linear stage; (c) a fifth axis camera and optical system mounted to one of the axes of the three axis linear motion stage. This fifth axis camera has an optical axis substantially parallel to the axis of linear motion; (d) a 45 degree mirror configured to bend the optical axis of the fifth axis camera by 90&#xb0; to point towards the object; and (e) a motor configured to rotate the mirror over a range of angles to obtain a fifth axis of viewing orientation.

Five axis optical inspection system

A method for the rapid optical inspection of stents is described wherein a stent is mounted on a mandrel with optical properties suitable for machine vision inspection of the stent is conveyed to a first inspection station containing a camera and illumination light source. A driving member securely contacts the mandrel and the stent is rotated in view of the inspection camera. The stent is then transferred to a second location for further operations. A unique identification tag is associated with each mandrel and tracks the location of the stent through the inspection process.

Automated stent inspection system

An optical system is effective to illuminate and scan an interior wall of an object having an interior bore, such as a stent. The system includes a light source, an object support having a light conducting portion, an image taking lens, and a line scan camera. The interior bore and the light conducting portion of the object support are in axial alignment with a center optical axis of the image taking lens. A drive mechanism engages the object without impacting the axial alignment. Various aspect of this optical system include a rotating wheel or transparent plate as the drive mechanism. The object support may be an opaque rod having a light conducting portion or a transparent rod. Electronics associated with this optical system include a rotary encoder engaging the drive system to drive an electric circuit capable of triggering the line scan camera in response to rotation of the object, thereby building a line by line image of the interior bore and the line scan camera connected to a computer-based imaging system effective to identify cosmetic and functional manufacturing defects.

System and method to illuminate and image the inside diameter of a stent

The bed with automatic mattress lifting system is a bed with a frame and an internal drive system for raising a mattress above the frame, allowing the user to easily change the sheets or other bed coverings. The mattress rests on a mattress supporting platform, which, in the lowered position, is received within the frame. In operation, driven motion of an internal rod caused by a drive system located within the frame generates rotation in a lever arm. The lever arm is secured to a shaft that extends across the frame, and rotation of the shaft causes a pair of supports to rotate. Upper ends of the supports are joined to a lower surface of the mattress supporting platform, thus driving upward movement of the mattress supporting platform. The sheets cover both the mattress and the platform, allowing the sheets to be changed without having to manually lift the mattress.

Bed with automatic mattress lifting system

A method for applying sublimation ink to an object. An ink transfer medium is placed in contact with an object surface that is coated with a material receptive to the ink. Microwave susceptor material is placed over the transfer medium, and clamped onto the object surface. The clamped assembly is energized in a microwave oven. Energy absorbed by the susceptor material is converted into heat energy, which heats the sublimation ink, causing it to sublimate and penetrate into the receptive coating.

Method of applying an image to an object

An automated optical inspection system with improved accuracy achieved by reducing the negative effects of extraneous light. The system includes a light trap behind a two-way mirror.

Automated optical inspection system with light trap

An optical inspection system with an improved illumination system. The improved illumination system used to illustrate the invention has a base formed from a printed circuit board. Substrates for mounting lighting elements, which are exemplified by light emitting diodes, are formed also on printed circuit boards. These circuit boards have serrated edges and the diodes are mounted to the serrations. This configuration allows the light emitting elements to be focused on the focal point. Also in the exemplary illumination system, the light emitting elements have different beam widths so that variations in the illumination intensity as a function of elevation angle are reduced.

Lighting arrangement for automated optical inspection system

An automated optical inspection (AOI) system includes component learning integrated with the inspection of a circuit board. The AOI system includes a component learning area that can be viewed by an imaging system used to inspect the circuit board in an inspection area. The component learning area can correspond to a region proximate the inspection area. The automated optical inspection system receives board inspection and component learn requests and determines opportune times to learn new component characteristics during the board inspection process so as to minimize the impact of the learning process on the overall inspection efficiency.

Optical inspection system having integrated component learning

An impact tool having a head structure including first head piece, a second head piece and an elongated handle structure. With a lengthwise section of the handle structure being arranged in operative association with and maintaining the first and second head piece of the head structure in operative combination relative to each other. A woven fiber material is arranged about and epoxied to the lengthwise section of the handle structure arranged in operative association with the first and second heads to enhance the interface therebetween.

Impact tool

A composite hammer is provided having enhanced vibration dampening characteristics. In one aspect of the invention, the composite hammer includes a handle having an elongated body and a cradle attached to a terminal end of the body. An elastomeric member substantially encapsulates the cradle and at least partially encapsulates a head structure to thereby secure the head structure to said handle. In another aspect of the invention, the hammer includes a substantially rigid elongated body having a chamber therein. An elastomeric material filler is positioned within the chamber of the hammer body to thereby enhance the vibration dampening characteristics of said hammer.

Composite Percussive tool

A medical attachment device is described that is hung upon and rigidly attached to an upright and horizontally disposed part of a patient transport vehicle and that also grasps an upright pole of a wheeled patient care apparatus for maintaining the vehicle and the apparatus in fixed spatial relationship while both are being moved by a single medical attendant.

Medical attachment device

A composite split head percussive tool including a rigid load bearing framework which carries a non-load bearing head assembly. The non-load bearing head assembly comprises a pair of axially aligned split heads that are interconnected to each other by an elastomeric link. The elastomeric link is encased and fixed within the tool body. During use of the tool, the elastomeric link acts as a dampener that suppresses the struck end rebound of the tool. When one head is struck against a surface, the elastomeric link allows the unstruck head to move toward the struck head and provide a secondary blow that inhibits the tool's struck end from bouncing away from the surface thereby providing the hammer with a unique 'dead-blow' characteristic.

Growing community of inventors

Vacaville, CA, United States of America

John Burnett