Abstract: An electro-optical gauging system for measuring the flatness of an edge of a workpiece which may be closed upon itself and of non-circular form by mounting the piece centered on a flat circular table having radial slots and an open center. A line source of light of uniform intensity is located at the table center to project a line image along a slot as the table is rotated around an axis of rotation perpendicular to its plane and coincident with the line image. The distance along the slot depth dimension from a reference edge in each slot to the workpiece edge is measured by measuring the width of the light beam passed between the reference edge and the workpiece edge. Measurements are made by passing collimated light between the edges to be measured. The light is imaged by a quasi-telecentric system onto a linescan camera having a linear array of pixels extending along the image length. Image-to-camera distance variations are accommodated by the imaging lens system.

Abstract: A system of illuminating a transparent glass article, such as a TV faceplate, for detecting optical defects. The source of illumination is tailored so as to be space invariant and results in producing a plurality of collimated beams which travel in a continuum of different directions. A uniformly illuminated diffuser plate with a mask has the attribute of enhancing refractive defects of a given magnitude while not detecting those of a more gradual refractive nature. The object is viewed with a linear diode array camera of a given acceptance angle.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting glass containers for irregularities in shape, wherein the containers are moved, in line, on a conveyor past a viewing station where there are three strobed light sources positioned at one side of the conveyor. One light is at 90.degree. with respect to the conveyor while the other two are at 45.degree. angles on either side thereof. Between the lights and the container being inspected are positioned Fresnel lenses; solid state discrete array cameras are positioned behind Fresnel lenses mounted on the opposite side of the conveyor with their viewing axes directed toward the light sources.Each backlighted container is viewed by the three cameras simultaneously and provides a profile scan of the container at a plurality of planar elevations. These scans are processed and compared electronically with input data fed to a central processing unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting glass tubes for fire checks and other defects is disclosed. Each tube is positioned on transport equipment and moved through an inspection area as it is rotated about its longitudinal axis by a spinner mechanism. A broad source of diffused light illuminates each tube in the inspection area. A camera is positioned above the moving line of tubes and includes an array of photosensitive diodes arranged parallel to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. A check in a tube will reflect a higher intensity light to the camera than a non-defective portion of the tube. By averaging the signals from the first few diodes for each longitudinal scan of the camera, a reference voltage level can be electronically determined for each scan. Any signal generated by a diode element of the camera which is greater than the sum of the reference signal and a predetermined signal indicates the presence of a defect in the tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to method and apparatus for inspecting glass containers and other types of containers having transparent or translucent sidewalls for defects, and especially to inspecting the finish portion of glass containers for defects such as horizontal checks. The entire finish portion is illuminated by diffused light and the check-type defects reflect light upwardly into an Erfle eyepiece which is then imaged onto a matrix-type light sensor.

Abstract: This invention relates to the inspection of glass ampules to determine whether or not a complete score line is present. A laser beam is directed to the point on the ampule where a score line would be located. The laser beam is reflected in a diffuse or specular fashion depending upon whether or not a score line is present. By detecting the amount of light which is diffusely reflected in a particular direction, determination of the presence of a score line is possible. The same inspection may be utilized to determine whether the constriction on an ampule is of the proper diameter.

Abstract: A method for measuring the thickness of transparent articles utilizing a plural component light beam. In the most general sense, the present invention involves the generation of a plural component light beam which is generally symmetric about the optic axis of the system. The light distribution which results from this arrangement is used to illuminate a transparent article. The result is separate reflections from the front and rear surfaces of the article for all of the components of the light beam. If these reflections are imaged in a detector plane which is conjugate to a plane in the vicinity of the article, a pair of co-planar images are formed, one image representing reflections of all of the plural components from the rear surface and the other image representing reflection of all of the plural components from the front surface. Measurement of the average separation of the images will give a value that is proportional to the thickness of the article at a point lying along the optic axis of the system.

Abstract: An evacuated, double wall, tubular solar energy collector having a concave, specular reflecting surface corresponding to a segment of a cylinder positioned at the opposite side of the collector tube from the sun. The reflector is detachably connected to the tube and the tube is engaged by raised spacing points on the reflector to provide the proper spaced relation between them and allow for water drainage along the reflector. Plural units of the collector tube and cylindrically-shaped reflector combination are supported along opposite sides of an elongated manifold for circulation of an energy absorbing media through them. This system improves the efficiency of total energy collection without tracking the sun or focusing the reflected radiation. The tubes are no more than three diameters apart and the cylindrical reflector has its focal line within the absorbing area of the collector tube.