Abstract: The two sets of ball bearings which support an inverted, generally U-shaped slide on the base member of the assembly are carried in the leg sections of an inverted, generally U-shaped ball cage which is positioned between the base member and slide. A piston which is reciprocated by compressed air in a bore in the base member, is connected to the two leg sections of the ball cage by a dowel pin, whereby reciprocation of the piston is imparted to the ball cage and the bearings supported therein. A cylindrical copupling pin which is rotatably mounted intermediate its ends in a slot in the central portion of the ball cage, projects at opposite ends thereof slidably and rotatably into registering, diagonal grooves formed in confronting surfaces of the base member and slide, thereby coupling the cage to the slide and base member for movement in unison by the piston.

Abstract: A male slide member, which is mounted to reciprocate in a rectangular recess formed in the face of a base member, is supported at one side thereof by a plurality of ball bearings for substantially friction-free movement with respect to one side of the recess, and is supported at its opposite side by an elongate bearing rod carried by the male slide member to have frictional, sliding movement with respect to a pair of spaced, parallel bearing surfaces that extend longitudinally of the other side of the recess in the base member. The bearing rod has formed in its periphery longitudinally spaced gear teeth which mesh with the teeth of a pinion gear mounted on the base member to rotate adjacent the bearing rod, and selectively to drive the rod and its attached slide member in opposite directions.

Abstract: Opposite side of the base section of the slide assembly are supported by two sets of ball bearings for reciprocable movement in an elongate recess formed in the slide section of the assembly. Each set of ball bearings is supported in an elongate retainer plate which extends between a pair of confronting grooves formed in the confronting surfaces of the base and slide sections at each side of the recess. Each set of ball bearings at opposite sides thereof has rolling engagement with a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending bearing rods that are mounted in each confronting groove. An elongate slot which is formed in the slide section opens at one side thereof on the bottom of one of the grooves in that section, and on the space which separates the pair of bearing rods mounted in that groove.

Abstract: The sliding member of a ball slide is supported for linear travel on a base member by two linear sets of ball bearings. In a typical embodiment each set of ball bearings has rolling engagement adjacent diametral opposite sides thereof with two pairs of spaced, parallel bearing rods that are housed, respectively, in longtitudinal grooves formed in confronting sides of the sliding member and base member, respectively. The spaces separating the two bearing rods of each pair thereof on the sliding member are equal to each other but greater than the spaces separating each pair of bearing rods on the base member, whereby for each revolution of a ball bearing the ball bearing will travel on the slide member at a rate lower than the rate of which the ball bearing will travel on the base member.

Abstract: An annular Fresnel lens surrounds a tubular barrel or sleeve containing an objective lens system, which is focussed on an object that is positioned a predetermined distance beyond one end of the barrel. Four independently operable light sources are arranged in equi-angularly spaced relation around the outside of the lens barrel to direct light onto each of four mirrors, which are mounted in intersecting planes around the outside of the lens barrel to reflect light in four quadrants onto the side of the Fresnel lens remote from said object. The Fresnel lens focuses light from the mirrors obliquely onto the object, an image of which is thus projected by the objective lens through the lens barrel toward, for example, a video sensor, which forms part of a video inspection machine.

Abstract: In this slide opposite sides of a male section are supported by two sets of ball bearings for reciprocable movement in an elongate recess formed in a female section of the slide. Each set of ball bearings is supported in an elongate retainer plate which extends transversely between a pair of confronting grooves formed in the confronting surfaces of the male and female slide sections at each side of the recess. The longitudinal side edges of each retainer plate project between a pair of elongate bearing rods that are mounted in each confronting groove to have rolling engagement with the associated ball bearings. An elongate tapered gib is mounted in the bottom of one of the grooves in the male section, and has an inclined camming surface disposed in coplanar, sliding engagement with a sloping surface formed on the bottom of the last-named groove and lying in a plane which extends parallel to said grooves, and transverse to a common plane containing said retainer plates.

Abstract: The light source comprises an elongate arc lamp surrounded by a paraboloidal reflector which, in one embodiment, projects an annular beam of light onto an annular reflector, or mirror, which in turn projects the light onto a workpiece. Reflected light from the workpiece is projected backwardly through an opening in the center of the mirror and is projected in known manner onto a viewing screen. In a second embodiment the mirror comprises a transparent member having a reflective spot (e.g., silver) in its center. In each embodiment a glass light filter is positioned between the light source and the associated mirror to filter out all but yellow and green light, and is inclined to the axis of the associated arc lamp to prevent direct reflection of ultraviolet light back at the lamp. The paraboloidal reflectors concentrate and direct collimated light toward the associated mirror thus eliminating need to employ separate collimating lenses and high wattage lamps.

Abstract: Opposite side of the base section of the slide assembly are supported by two sets of ball bearings for reciprocable movement in an elongate recess formed in the slide section of the assembly. Each set of ball bearings is supported in an elongate retainer plate which extends between a pair of confronting grooves formed in the confronting surfaces of the base and slide sections at each side of the recess. Each set of ball bearings at opposite sides thereof has rolling engagement with a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending bearing rods that are mounted in each confronting groove. An elongate slot which is formed in the slide section opens at one side thereof on the bottom of one of the grooves in that section, and on the space which separates the pair of bearing rods mounted in that groove.