The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 02, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 01, 1996
Stephen R Smith, Lawrenceville, NJ (US);
John L Lowrance, Princeton, NJ (US);
Princeton Scientific Instruments, Inc., Monmouth Junction, NJ (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for optically testing products such as condoms, gloves or any number of similar objects without contact and non-destructively. In testing for holes, a light source having a wavelength at which the product to be tested is relatively opaque is used to illuminate either the inner or outer wall of the product and a photo sensor sensitive to the particular wavelength is located to sense the amount of light passing through the wall of the product. In testing for embedded particles, a light source of visible light is used to illuminate the product to be tested and a photosensor senses any variation in the amount of light passing through the walls of the product. In the testing of products, such as condoms, for the presence of holes, the condom is mounted on a transparent mandrel or distended by inflating the condom with a jet of air. A line of light derived from a light source having a wavelength at which the condom material, if free of defects, is relatively opaque, is projected onto the surface of the condom and a photosensor measures the amount of light passing through the surface of the condom. The light may be scanned about the surface of the condom while the condom is stationary. Alternatively, the line of light is stationary and the condom is rotated about the light. The photo sensor is positioned to sense the amount of light passing through the condom wall along a line corresponding to the line of light for determining the presence of a defect and its location.