Abstract: A certification system and method for inspecting of a roll of web material through a web inspection system which includes the inspection of the roll of web material to determine the number, type and location of one or more detectable flaws along the web material. This data “object” representation of the roll map is recorded, and then compared to predetermined product set-up parameters and machine vision hardware integrity data to determine the accuracy of the web inspection. The generated “certification” assures with a substantial degree of precision that the machine vision hardware is calibrated and operating correctly, and that the correct system setup parameters for the particular web product being inspected are being applied.

Abstract: A certification system and method for inspecting of a roll of web material through a web inspection system which includes the inspection of the roll of web material to determine the number, type and location of one or more detectable flaws along the web material. This data “object” representation of the roll map is recorded, and then compared to predetermined product set-up parameters and machine vision hardware integrity data to determine the accuracy of the web inspection. The generated “certification” assures with a substantial degree of precision that the machine vision hardware is calibrated and operating correctly, and that the correct system setup parameters for the particular web product being inspected are being applied.

Abstract: A web inspection apparatus (20) and method for use in identifying surface anomalies (26) on a moving material web (21) including a scanning device (22) and data processing circuitry (23) for monitoring and analyzing the output data of the scanning device (22). The scanning device (22) is configured to continuously scan a surface (25) of the moving web (21) and generates output data representative of the surface of the web. The data processing circuitry (23) is responsive to selected output data representing at least one type of surface anomaly (26) such that Region Of Interest (ROI) data are automatically recorded. This ROI data represents the detected anomaly (26) and an immediate surrounding region (27) including the detected anomaly. The hands-free data processing circuitry (23) continuously monitors and analyzes the output data generated by the scanning device (22) while the ROI data is being stored.

Abstract: An illumination system (20) and method for use with an optical web inspection assembly (21) to identify surface defects on a moving material web (25). The illumination system (20) includes an elongated light source (26) having an elongated aperture (46) adapted to transmit a substantially continuous elongated strip of non-collimated light therefrom generally in an entrance direction. An elongated light pipe device (32) is provided having an elongated entrance end (33) and an opposite elongated exit end (36) wherein the entrance end (33) is positioned longitudinally adjacent the light source aperture (46) and configured to substantially receive the strip of light therethrough in the entrance direction. The light pipe (32) includes a smoothly curved interior wall (37) extending from the entrance end (33) to the exit end (36), and defines an optical path configured to reflect and transmit substantially all the light received from the entrance end to the exit end (36).

Abstract: A pulsed through-transmission ultrasonic non-destructive inspection of the internal structure in a tire wall is effected. The transmitted acoustic signals preferably have a frequency of at least 40 KHz, are transduced to electrical form, amplified with a relatively long time constant AGC, rectified and integrated during only the initial or leading edge portions of each pulse or burst. The resulting integrated analog signal values thus provided have relative magnitudes which may be displayed or otherwise processed to detect structural anomalies within the tire wall. If plural acoustic transmitters are utilized, they are preferably multiplexed such that only a single transducer is activated at a given time. Air leaks from the pressurized tire under test are also detected by detecting ultrasonic signals generated by escaping air.

Abstract: A mass flow rate meter is provided having two U-shaped tubular flow loops, means for vibrating the flow loops like the tines of a tuning fork. Opto-electrical sensors on opposite legs of the flow loops generate signals indicative of the times between the passing of the sides of the loop through the static plane of the loop. The times between the passing of the sides of the loops through the static plane may be combined to derive the mass flow rate of material flowing through the loops. Means are provided for varying the gain of the opto-electrical sensors to provide for a constant performance under conditions of changing temperature, voltage variations and aging characteristics.

Abstract: A pulsed through-transmission ultrasonic non-destructive inspection of the internal structure in a tire wall is effected. The transmitted acoustic signals preferably have a frequency of least 40 Khz, are transduced to electrical form, amplified with a relatively long time constant AGC, rectified and integrated during only the initial or leading edge portions of each pulse or burst. The resulting integrated analog signal values thus provided have relative magnitudes which may be displayed or otherwise processed to detect structural anomalies within the tire wall. If plural acoustic transmitters are utilized, they are preferably multiplexed such that only a single transducer is activated at a given time.The ultrasonic inspection is preferably carried out through the walls of a rotating inflated tire with the ultrasonic transducers being automatically moved toward the inner and outer tire wall surfaces to optimum relative distances of separation during an inspection cycle.

Abstract: A pulsed through-transmission ultrasonic non-destructive inspection of the internal structure in a tire wall is effected. The transmitted acoustic signals preferably have a frequency of least 40 Khz, are transduced to electrical form, amplified with a relatively long time constant AGC, rectified and integrated during only the initial or leading edge portions of each pulse or burst. The resulting integrated analog signal values thus provided have relative magnitudes which may be displayed or otherwise processed to detect structural anomalies within the tire wall. If plural acoustic transmitters are utilized, they are preferably multiplexed such that only a single transducer is activated at a given time.

Abstract: A document processing system including a video camera and raster scan television monitors. The apparatus comprises a document transport that sequentially passes documents by both a machine readable data reader and a video camera. The data reader reads and stores in a digital memory the machine readable data encoded on the documents. The video camera captures the entire image of each document and stores the images in a video memory. In one embodiment the images are stored as analog signals and in another embodiment as digital signals. The system further includes a plurality of video terminals at which the operators of the system can recall and display on command both the machine readable data and the video images of the documents.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mass flow rate meter having two U-shaped flow loops, means for vibrating the flow loops like the tines of a tuning fork, timing means on the loops for sensing the difference in times between the passing of the sides of the loop through the static plane of the loops, and sensing means for determining which side of the U-shaped tubes went through the static plane first. The time between the passing of the sides of the loops during one half cycle of the vibrations of the loops is combined with the time of another half cycle of the vibrations dependent upon which side of the loops pass through the static plane first. An embodiment is further disclosed having a microprocessor for combining the times, and for comparing these times with a selectable variance from the time of a predetermined set of vibrations before the present time measurement is accepted. Electronic circuitry is also disclosed which improves the time measurement of the timing means.