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:
Jun. 11, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 05, 2010
Paul Ivan John Keeton, Woodbridge, VA (US);
Sushma Kalavagunta, Burke, VA (US);
Paul Ivan John Keeton, Woodbridge, VA (US);
Sushma Kalavagunta, Burke, VA (US);
Sonix, Inc., Springfield, VA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of one or more parts, in which one or more parts to be inspected are transferred from a parts carrier to a scan nest that is located in the scanning station. The parts are restrained in the scan nest and then scanned. A pick and place mechanism is used to transfer the parts to be inspected between the parts carrier the scan nest. The inspection path may be altered if a missing part is detected. In one embodiment, a first gas flow port located on the pick and place mechanism or on the transducer holder is used to blow ultrasonic coupling fluid from the front surface of the parts in the scan nest after they have been scanned. In a further embodiment, two or more scan nests are used for parallel operation.