Abstract: Method and system for inspecting a manufactured part supported on an optically-transparent window of a rotary actuator at an inspection station are provided. The window rotatably supports the part in a generally vertical orientation at which a bottom end surface of the part has a position and orientation for optical inspection. An illuminator is configured to illuminate the bottom end surface of the part through the window with radiant energy to obtain reflected radiation signals which are reflected off the bottom end surface of the part. The reflected radiation signals travel through the window. A lens and detector assembly is configured to form a bottom image from the reflected radiation signals at a bottom imaging location below the window and is configured to detect the bottom image. The window is made of a material which is substantially transparent to the radiant energy and the reflected radiation signals.

Abstract: A high-speed method and system for inspecting a stream of parts using at least one transparent traveling carrier of a conveyor subsystem are provided. The subsystem has a forward reach and a return reach. The method includes controllably receiving a stream of parts in rapid succession on the at least one traveling carrier and utilizing the subsystem to transfer the stream of parts in rapid succession to a part inspection station. The bottom surface of each part is illuminated through its traveling carrier with radiant energy when the part is located at the inspection station to generate reflected radiation signals which travel through its traveling carrier. A bottom image of each illuminated bottom surface is formed from the reflected radiation signals at an imaging location between the forward and return reaches at the inspection station. The bottom images are detected at the imaging location.

Abstract: A high-resolution imaging and processing method and system for increasing the range of a geometric dimension of a part that can be determined are provided. The method includes directing at least one plane of collimated radiation at a surface of the part. Each of the planes is occluded by the part to create unobstructed first and second planar portions of the plane of radiation. Each of the first and second planar portions has a width and contains an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the supported part to be determined. The method includes increasing the width and decreasing the intensity of the first and second planar portions imaged on a plurality of predetermined measuring areas to obtain respective elongated planar portions and to produce respective electrical signals. The electrical signals are processed to determine the geometric dimension with enhanced accuracy.

Abstract: A high-resolution imaging and processing method and system for determining a geometric dimension of a part is provided. The method includes directing at least one plane of collimated radiation at a surface of a supported part. Each of the planes is occluded by the part to create unobstructed first and second planar portions of the plane of radiation passing by and not blocked by the supported part and to cast a radiation shadow of the supported part. Each of the first and second planar portions has a width and contains an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the part to be determined. The method includes increasing the width and decreasing the intensity of the first and second planar portions imaged on first and second predetermined measuring areas, respectively.

Abstract: A high-speed, high-resolution, triangulation-based, 3-D method and system for inspecting manufactured parts and sorting the inspected parts are provided. The method includes consecutively transferring the parts so that the parts move along a path which extends from a supply of parts and through an imaging station. A triangulation-based sensor head is supported at the imaging station. The sensor head is configured to generate focused lines of radiation and to sense corresponding reflected lines of radiation. The focused lines are delivered onto an end surface of each part to obtain a corresponding array of reflected lines of radiation. The sensor head senses the array of reflected lines to obtain a corresponding set of 2-D profile signals. The set of profile signals represent a 3-D view of the end surface. The set of 2-D profile signals of each part is processed to identify parts having an unacceptable defect.

Abstract: A high-speed, 3-D method and system for optically measuring a geometric dimension of manufactured parts such as cartridge cases are provided. The method includes consecutively transferring the parts so that the parts travel along a path which extends to a vision station at which each part has a predetermined position and orientation for optical measuring. A line of radiation having a predetermined orientation is projected onto spaced apart end surfaces of the part to obtain reflected line segments of radiation from the end surfaces of the part. The reflected line segments of radiation are detected at one or more image planes to obtain electrical signals and the electrical signals are processed to determine the geometric dimension such as primer pocket depth.

Abstract: High-speed method and system for optically measuring a geometric dimension of manufactured parts such as cartridge cases are provided. The parts are consecutively transferred so that the parts travel along a first path which extends to a vision station at which each part has a predetermined position and orientation for optical measuring. An annular, interior side surface of a part which at least partially defines a pocket such as a primer pocket is illuminated when the part is located at the vision station to generate corresponding reflected radiation signals. An optical image of the illuminated interior side surface is formed from the reflected radiation signals at a single image plane. The optical image is detected at the image plane and the detected optical image is processed to determine the geometric dimension which may be primer product diameter.

Abstract: A method and system for optically inspecting parts are provided wherein the system includes a part transfer subsystem including a transfer mechanism adapted to receive and support a part at a loading station and to transfer the supported part so that the part travels along a first path which extends from the loading station to an inspection station at which the part has a predetermined position and orientation for inspection. An illumination assembly simultaneously illuminates a plurality of exterior side surfaces of the part with a plurality of separate beams of radiation. A telecentric lens and detector assembly forms an optical image of at least a portion of each of the illuminated side surfaces of the part and detects the optical images. A processor processes the detected optical images to obtain a plurality of views of the part which are angularly spaced about the axis of the part.

Abstract: A method and system for optically inspecting the entire outer peripheral surface of a part are provided. The system includes an enclosure which allows movement of a part relative to the enclosure both prior to and after inspection within the enclosure. An illumination assembly simultaneously illuminates a plurality of exterior side surfaces of the part which are annularly spaced about the axis of the part with radiation when the part is at a predetermined location within the enclosure to obtain corresponding reflected radiation signals. A plurality of lens and detector assemblies are provided. Each of the assemblies forms an optical image of one of the illuminated exterior side surfaces from the reflected radiation signals and detects the formed optical image within the enclosure. A processor processes the detected optical images to obtain a continuous, seamless, 360° panoramic composite image of the peripheral surface of the part.

Abstract: A high-speed, 3-D method and system for optically inspecting parts are provided. The system includes a part transfer subsystem including a transfer mechanism adapted to support a part at a loading station and transfer the supported part from the loading station to an inspection station at which the part has a predetermined position and orientation for inspection. The system also includes an illumination assembly to simultaneously illuminate an end surface of the part and a peripheral surface of the part. The system further includes a lens and detector assembly to form an optical image of the illuminated end surface and an optical image of the illuminated peripheral surface of the part and to detect the optical images. The system still further includes a processor to process the detected optical images to obtain an end view of the part and a 3-D panoramic view of the peripheral surface of the part.

Abstract: Method and system for inspecting dosage forms having code imprints using chemical imaging and sorting the inspected dosage forms are provided. The method includes providing reference data obtained by chemically imaging a first surface of a reference dosage form having a known good code imprint and having a known desired chemical composition. The method further includes consecutively feeding and transferring unpackaged dosage forms having code imprints and random orientations so that the dosage forms travel through a chemical composition station where a first surface of each dosage form is viewable. The method still further includes chemically imaging the first surface of each dosage form located at the chemical composition station to obtain a first set of chemical imaging data. The method further includes processing the chemical imaging data and the reference data to detect inspected dosage forms having chemical compositions different from the desired chemical composition.

Abstract: A method and system for optically inspecting parts are provided wherein the system includes a part transfer subsystem including a transfer mechanism adapted to receive and support a part at a loading station and to transfer the supported part so that the part travels along a first path which extends from the loading station to an inspection station at which the part has a predetermined position and orientation for inspection. An illumination assembly simultaneously illuminates a plurality of exterior side surfaces of the part with a plurality of separate beams of radiation. A telecentric lens and detector assembly forms an optical image of at least a portion of each of the illuminated side surfaces of the part and detects the optical images. A processor processes the detected optical images to obtain a plurality of views of the part which are angularly spaced about the axis of the part.

Abstract: A method and system for inspecting small, manufactured objects at a plurality of inspection stations and sorting the inspected objects are provided. Coins, coin blanks, tablets or pills are fed from a centrifugal feeder and conveyed or transferred by a transfer subsystem. The objects are spaced at equal intervals during conveyance to provide a “metering effect” which allows the proper spacing between objects for inspection and rejection of defects. The inspection stations may include imaging assemblies in the form of conventional cameras and/or three-dimensional sensors such as triangulation or confocal sensors. The inspection stations may include a circumference vision station and/or an eddy current station. Circumferential defects (like in edge lettering) on coins or rim defects on pills can be detected at the circumference vision station by another imaging assembly. Metal chips, foreign metallic debris, etc. in or on the tablets/pills can be detected at the eddy current station.

Abstract: Method and system for inspecting dosage forms having code imprints and sorting the inspected dosage forms are provided. The method includes imaging a viewable first surface of each dosage form at a first vision station to obtain a first set of the images of the dosage forms including any code imprints. The method further includes imaging a viewable second surface of each dosage form at a second vision station to obtain a second set of images of the dosage forms including any code imprints. The method still further includes processing each image of the first and second sets of images with at least one machine vision algorithm to identify dosage forms having unacceptable defects including defective or nonexistent code imprints. The method finally includes directing dosage forms identified as having unacceptable defects to a defective dosage form area.

Abstract: A method for optically inspecting a part having a length, a diameter and an axis is provided. The method includes supporting the part. The method further includes linearly scanning at least one plane of radiation having a width wider than the diameter of the part onto an exterior side surface of the supported part so that the part occludes the at least one plane of radiation at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the axis to create unobstructed left and right planar portions of the at least one plane of radiation passing by and not blocked by the part. The unobstructed left and right planar portions contain an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective diameter of the part at the plurality of spaced apart locations.

Abstract: A method and system for high-speed, high-resolution 3-D imaging of manufactured parts of various sizes at an imaging station having a measurement axis are provided. The part has a 3-D end surface and a length, a width and a part axis defined as being central to the part and parallel to its length. The system includes apparatus having a central axis substantially parallel to the measurement axis and a plurality of members having open and closed positions. The members have holding faces which are substantially equidistant from the central axis during movement between the positions to align a part disposed between the holding faces at the station so that the part axis is substantially parallel to the measurement and central axes. The holding faces releasably hold the aligned part in a holding position between the positions. The system further includes an actuator for moving the apparatus so that the end surface moves in a plane substantially perpendicular to the measurement axis.

Abstract: A method and system for centering and aligning manufactured parts of various sizes at an optical measurement station are provided. The system includes apparatus having a central axis substantially parallel to the measurement axis and including a plurality of members having open and closed positions. The members have holding faces which are substantially equidistant from the central axis during movement between the open and closed positions. At least one of the members applies a force on an exterior side surface of a part disposed between the holding faces during movement between the positions to reposition the part at the station. The repositioned part is centered and aligned with respect to the measurement axis at the station. The holding faces releasably hold the repositioned part in a holding position between the open and closed positions at the station.

Abstract: An optical method and system for generating calibration data are provided. The calibration data is for use in calibrating a part inspection system. The method includes supporting a calibration device having a central axis and a plurality of regions which are rotationally symmetric about the axis. The method further includes scanning the device with an array of spaced planes of radiation so that the device occludes each of the planes of radiation at spaced locations along the central axis to create a corresponding array of unobstructed planar portions of the planes of radiation. Each of the unobstructed planar portions contains an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the device. The method still further includes measuring the amount of radiation present in each of the unobstructed planar portions to obtain measurement signals. The method includes processing the measurement signals to obtain calibration data for calibrating the system.

Abstract: A system for indirectly measuring a geometric dimension related to an opening in an apertured exterior surface of a part such as an ammunition case based on direct measurements of the part when fixtured at a measurement station is provided. The system includes first and second holding devices for holding the part therebetween in a part-retaining position in which the part is firmly held between the devices at its end surfaces. In one embodiment, a portion of each of the holding devices extends into its respective opening in the part-retaining position. The system also includes a head apparatus which has a plurality of radiation sources for successively directing arrays of planes of radiation at the holding devices and at the part, and a plurality of receiver modules for measuring the amount of radiation present in unobstructed planar portions of the planes to obtain holding device and part signals.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically inspecting parts and for automatically generating calibration data for use in inspecting parts are provided. The system includes a support for supporting a part to be inspected and/or a calibration device along a measurement axis. The system further includes a head apparatus including a plurality of radiation plane generators for directing an array of planes of radiation at the part and/or device so that the part and/or device occludes each of the planes of radiation to create a corresponding array of unobstructed planar portions of the planes of radiation. Each of the unobstructed planar portions contains an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the part and/or device. The head apparatus further includes a plurality of radiation plane receivers or cameras such as line scan cameras.