Abstract:
A light source module 100 for use with a multi-camera array 130 in a video surface inspection system includes a first light emitter 104 which extends lengthwise across the entire width of a sheet 106 to be inspected. Light from the first light emitter 104, which preferably comprises one or more fluorescent lamps, is received by a light guide 110 and carried by the guide to uniformly illuminate a band extending entirely across the width of the moving sheet. The light guide comprises a transparent thermoplastic such that the light receiving end 118 of the guide can be bent to define a plurality of sections which can be axially aligned with a corresponding plurality of fluorescent lamps. The light source module can also assist the inspection system in overcoming redundant data processing problems by providing second light emitters 134 which illuminate the sheet in overlapping portions 132 of the fields of view of adjacent cameras of the multi-camera array 130 to define data dividing points. Accordingly, duplicated data generated by the video cameras can be divided among the cameras at the defined data dividing points such that duplicated data is only processed once by the video surface inspection system.
Abstract:
A light source module 100 for use with a multi-camera array 130 in a video surface inspection system includes a first light emitter 104 which extends lengthwise across the entire width of a sheet 106 to be inspected. Light from the first light emitter 104, which preferably comprises one or more fluorescent lamps, is received by a light guide 110 and carried by the guide to uniformly illuminate a band extending entirely across the width of the moving sheet. The light guide comprises a transparent thermoplastic such that the light receiving end 118 of the guide can be bent to define a plurality of sections which can be axially aligned with a corresponding plurality of fluorescent lamps. The light source module can also assist the inspection system in overcoming redundant data processing problems by providing second light emitters 134 which illuminate the sheet in overlapping portions 132 of the fields of view of adjacent cameras of the multi-camera array 130 to define data dividing points. Accordingly, duplicated data generated by the video cameras can be divided among the cameras at the defined data dividing points such that duplicated data is only processed once by the video surface inspection system.
Abstract:
A contacting thickness gauge comprising a unique surface follower (46). The bottom surface (56) of the surface follower (46) has both contacting areas (64,66) and non-contacting areas (62). The surface follower (46) is in substantially continuous contact with a moving sheet (2) and embodies an electrically conductive target having a target surface that intersects a magnetic field but is substantially free from contact with the sheet during normal operation. The surface follower (46) is designed to minimize damage to the sheet (2) that would otherwise occur from contact between the surface follower and a protruberance of the sheet, and to preserve the characteristics of the target surface.