Ball Corporation

Alltrista Corporation

Ronald D Wertz

H Kent Minet

Robert H Cormack

Jeffrey P Davies

Stephen M Horacek

Christopher L Sweeney

James Henry Orszulak

Carey S Brown

Jerry R Gilland

Daniel J Messerschmidt

Brett A Nickerson

Apparatus (40) locates welds or other junctures (20) in sheet material (12). The apparatus (40) includes a sensor (16) that produces a varying signal that is a function of the distance (100) between a surface (26) of sheet material (12) and the sensor (16), a differentiator circuit (42) differentiates the varying signal as a function of time, a comparator (44) compares the differentiated signal with a calculated allowable and sends a signal to an input (90) of an electronic latch (46), the electronic latch (46) sends a signal to a reject mechanism (48), and the reject mechanism (48) sends a reject-accomplished signal to a reset terminal (98) of the electronic latch (46). The method of the invention includes transporting the sheet material (12), producing a rate of change signal that is a function of changes in thickness (18) of the sheet material (12), determining an allowable rate of change signal, and comparing the produced rate of change signal with the allowable rate of change signal. Preferably, the producing step includes obtaining a varying electrical signal whose variations are a function of variations in the thickness (18) of the sheet material (12), and developing a rate of change of signal from the varying electrical signal.

Method and apparatus for detecting weld junctions in steel sheets using

An optical inspection system which inspects for the presence of color defects in a stream of material (e.g. carpeting, fabric, wall paper, printed matter, or a series of discrete objects) traveling along a production line. The optical inspection system positions one or more optical heads near the stream of material as it moves along the production line without physically interfering or interacting with the movement. Each optical head senses a preselected number of different colors appearing in a predetermined field of view on the stream of material. The optical head produces electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of each sensed color within its field of view during each sample. A computer is utilized to process these electrical signals from each optical head. The computer first generates a number of two color signatures based upon the selected number of colors for each optical head. After a sufficient number of samples have been sensed by the optical head so that all two color signatures are fully developed, the computer senses the colors from each successive sample and compares it to the generated color signatures. If the color pattern from a sample falls outside the generated color signatures, then an error signal is generated.

System for non-contact identification and inspection of color patterns

A system for generating a solid model of the sidewall of the container. A mandrel selectively holds the container in first and second locations. In the first location, a non-contact measurement apparatus utilizing a digital camera produces digital information for generating a three dimensional sidewall surface profile of the container based upon shadow edge detection. In the second position, a contact measurement apparatus produces information for generating a three dimensional sidewall thickness map of the container. A computer collects the information from the contact and non-contact measurement apparatuses and produces an overall solid model of the sidewall of the container based upon sidewall surface profile and sidewall thickness. The computer generates can tilt, diameter, can ovality, and can squarity information.

Precision three dimensional profiling and measurement system for

An optical inspection system which inspects for the presence of defects in colored labels placed, for example, on the side walls of cylindrical beverage cans. The optical inspection system utilizes a conveyor for conveying the beverage cans in a production line where such beverage cans typically are randomly oriented. The optical inspection system positions an optical head near the beverage cans as they move in the production line without physically interfering or interacting with the movement. The optical head senses a preselected number of different colors which appear in a predetermined field of view of each moving can. The cans being randomly oriented have different portions of the label visible in the predetermined field of view which is fixed in position. The optical head produces analog electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of each sensed color. A computer is utilized to process these analog electrical signals from the optical head. The computer first generates a number of two color signatures based upon the selected number of colors. After sufficient cans have passed the optical head wherein all two color signatures are fully developed, the computer senses the colors from each successive subsequent can and compares it to the generated color signature. If the sensed color pattern falls outside the generated color signatures, then the can fails and an error signal is generated.

System for non-contact colored label identification and inspection and

An apparatus and method for inspecting multilayer articles. An article to be inspected is clamped in a liquid filled tank between a pair of focused transducers. An ultrasonic pulse is introduced to a cross section of the article from each transducer sequentially. Reflections from the surfaces and interfaces within the article are received by each transducer and transmitted to a computer for analysis. The thicknesses of the innermost layers of the article are determined by calculating the mean of the measurements from each transducer for each inner layer.

Nondestructive inspection system for laminated products

An apparatus and method for non-destructively measuring the thickness of an internal coating in a container and when the internal coating is defective the area of exposed metal. The apparatus uses a frequency source which is capable of generating two sinusoidal signals of predetermined frequency and of constant amplitude wherein the two sinusoidal signals are ninety degrees apart in phase. One of the two signals is applied across a predetermined area at a selected interior configuration in the container. The applied signal has its phase and amplitude varied as a function of the thickness of the internal coating and as a function of exposed surface metal from defects in the coating. Applied signal as varied is converted to a voltage in a current-to-voltage amplifier and delivered into an electronic circuit which combines it with the second signal from the frequency source in order to produce a capacitive output indicative of the thickness of the internal coating being measured in the predetermined area. The applied signal as varied is also combined with the first signal in order to produce a resistive output indicative of the area of exposed metal. A plurality of sensing probes are placed in a container to obtain thickness and exposed metal area measurements at different predetermined areas of the container, thereby obtaining a profile of the interior coating of the container.

Apparatus for non-destructively measuring internal coating thickness and

An optical inspection system inspects individual sheets having scrolled and unscrolled edges for defects in a production line with high transfer velocities. Each of the individual sheets are delivered in a production line with some spacing between them and potentially with some degree of skewness and offset from the production center line. The inspection system of the present invention utilizes a formed viewing window over which individual sheets from the production line are delivered. As each sheet is delivered over the formed viewing window, the undersurface of each individual sheet is uniformly and continuously illuminated along the length of the formed viewing window with high intensity diffused light. The reflected light from the surface of each moving individual sheet is captured by at least one video camera. As the sheet moves across the formed viewing window, a line-by-line video image is captured and stored according to a rectangularization technique which eliminates the need for customized masks. An analyzer receives the stored information and analyzes the stored information for the presence of defects.

Optical sheet inspection system

An optical inspection system which inspects for the presence of defects in colored labels placed, for example, on the side walls of cylindrical beverage cans. The optical inspection system utilizes a conveyor for conveying the beverage cans in a production line where such beverage cans typically are randomly oriented. The optical inspection system positions an optical head near the beverage cans as they move in the production line without physically interferring or interacting with the movement. The optical head senses a preselected number of different colors which appear in a predetermined field of view of each moving can. The cans being randomly oriented have different portions of the label visible in the predetermined field of view which is fixed in position. The optical head produces analog electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of each sensed color. A computer is utilized to process these analog electrical signals from the optical head. The computer first generates a number of two color signatures based upon the selected number of colors. After sufficient cans have passed the optical head wherein all two color signatures are fully developed, the computer senses the colors from each successive subsequent can and compares it to the generated color signature. if the sensed color pattern falls outside the generated color signatures, then the can fails and an air signal is generated.

A portable monitoring device and method are disclosed for monitoring a predetermined parameter, such as temperature. The portable device, or probe, is miniaturized and includes a sensor and an associated electronic unit encased within a housing. The sensor senses the parameter to be monitored and produces signals indicative thereof, while the electronic unit includes a converter for converting signals received in analog form to digital signals, a memory for storing the digital signals, and a microprocessor for controlling the sensing and signal storing operations. The probe is a self-sufficient unit, is electrically isolated while at the monitoring area, and is caused to operate in an active mode during periods of sensing and storing of information in memory that requires low power with even lower power consumption being achieved when the probe is inactive. A band, electrically insulated from the remainder of the housing, allows readout of information stored in memory within the probe after the probe has been removed from the monitoring area and mounted at a console unit for readout purposes.

Portable monitoring device and method

A method and apparatus is disclosed for stabilizing the operative angle of acceptance of a multiple-beam interferometer means that is employed in an optical measuring system wherein optical radiation source means are employed. In accordance with the disclosed apparatus, the optical radiation source means is utilized to provide a reference point optical radiation source which emits reference optical radiation that is received by the multiple-beam interferometer means. With respect to such reference optical radiation, a set of reference non-localized multiple-beam interference fringes are created by the interferometer means. A photoelectric detection means is provided to detect the two-dimensional position of at least a portion of the innermost interference fringe of the reference set of interference fringes. Such positional information is transmitted by electrical signals to a processor means which compares such signals to desired values therefor. The desired values reflect what size said detected innermost fringe should be if the multiple-beam interferometer means is operating at a predetermined and desired angle of acceptance. If deviations from such desired values are discerned by the processor means, the processor means will transmit a control signal to the optical radiation source means. The control signal will instruct the optical radiation source means to vary the wavelength of the radiation emitted thereby so as to cause the operative angle of acceptance of the interferometer means to stabilize about the desired value therefor.

Method and apparatus for stabilizing angle of acceptance of

A cathode ray tube display system and method having bidirectional line scanning are disclosed. Bidirectional line scanning is achieved by scanning each odd numbered scan line from left to right and each even numbered scan line from right to left, thereby avoiding the necessity for retrace, or flyback. In order to avoid loss of intelligibility in displaying the video information received from a conventional source providing video information written only from left to right, as is conventional, the received video information is stored in memory by scan lines with each odd numbered line being read out in the same order as stored in memory and each even numbered line being read out in reverse order as stored in memory. Timed control is provided for processing of the video information and display thereof with bidirectional scanning, and geometric error correction is provided for both the horizontal and vertical scan generators.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Ronald D Wertz