Detection Of Foreign Material (e.g., Trash, Splinters, Contaminants, Etc.) Patents (Class 356/238.3)
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Patent number: 11402335Abstract: An instrument for identifying at least one of fiber blend composition and fiber blend ratio in an input material moved by a third set of fiber movements. A second spectral radiation source directs radiation toward the input material. A second spectral sensor receives portions of the second radiation that pass through the input material. A third spectral sensor receives portions of the second radiation that reflect off of the input material. A controller processes the signals from at least one of the second spectral sensor and the third spectral sensor to determine at least one of the fiber blend composition and the fiber blend ratio in the input material. The controller also sends control signals to the second electromagnetic radiation source and the third set of fiber movements.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Uster Technologies AGInventors: Peyman Dehkordi, Kent A. Rinehart, Weichang C. Zhao
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Patent number: 8753458Abstract: The three dimensional (3-D) locations of splices in pre-preg tows placed by an automatic fiber placement machine to form a laminated composite structure are mapped to allow visualization of alignment patterns in the splices.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2009Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Reed Hannebaum, Eric Rector
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Patent number: 8749776Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and a method for inspecting a cloth piece, by which dirt and a tear can be reliably distinguished. The apparatus for inspecting a cloth piece includes: a first inspection camera 41 for picking up an image of reflected light from a cloth piece T passing through the dark color section 21; and a second inspection camera 42 for picking up an image of transmitted light through the cloth piece T passing through the transparent section 22. The dirt and the tear can be reliably distinguished by determining an area where the reflected light and transmitted light are both darker than a surrounding area to be dirt and by determining an area where the reflected light is darker than the surrounding area and the transmitted light is brighter than the surrounding area to be the tear.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Purex Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazushi Hamada, Yasuhiko Enami
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Patent number: 8695669Abstract: The three dimensional (3-D) locations of splices in pre-preg tows placed by an automatic fiber placement machine to form a laminated composite structure are mapped to allow visualization of alignment patterns in the splices.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Reed Hannebaum, Eric Rector
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Patent number: 8428686Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a physiological parameter includes a garment that includes a fabric that exhibits both a light transmission property and a light reflection property. The amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, such as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers and at least one detector responsive to such incident radiation. The source and detector are associated with the fabric such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric when the fabric stretches.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Textronics, Inc.Inventors: Chia Kuo, George W. Coulston
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Publication number: 20130077093Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and a method for inspecting a cloth piece, by which dirt and a tear can be reliably distinguished, and which have high accuracy to detect the dirt. The apparatus for inspecting a cloth piece includes: an inspection table 20 having a dark color section 21 and a light transmitting section 22; a first inspection camera 41 for picking up an image of reflected light from a cloth piece T passing through the dark color section 21; and a second inspection camera 42 for picking up an image of transmitted light through the cloth piece T passing through the transparent section 22. The dirt and the tear can be reliably distinguished by determining an area where the reflected light and transmitted light are both darker than a surrounding area to be dirt and by determining an area where the reflected light is darker than the surrounding area and the transmitted light is brighter than the surrounding area to be the tear.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: PUREX CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazushi Hamada, Yasuhiko Enami
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Patent number: 8145291Abstract: A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric that exhibits a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers. The amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an imaginary axis extending from the fabric relative to the amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one radiation source and at least one radiation detector, with the detector disposed in the aperture of acceptance.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Textronics, Inc.Inventor: George W. Coulston
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Patent number: 8018587Abstract: A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric comprising a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns. The fabric exhibits both a light transmission property and a light reflection property. The amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, such as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers and at least one detector responsive to such incident radiation. The source and detector are associated with the fabric such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric when the fabric stretches.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Textronics, Inc.Inventors: Chia Kuo, George W. Coulston
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Patent number: 7725152Abstract: A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric comprising a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns. The fabric exhibits both a light transmission property and a light reflection property. The amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, such as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers and at least one detector responsive to such incident radiation. The source and detector are associated with the fabric such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric when the fabric stretches.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2004Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Textronics, Inc.Inventors: Chia Chyuan Kuo, George W. Coulston
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Patent number: 7712502Abstract: An inspection system (9) includes an idler wheel (61) that is coupled to a fabrication system (8) and is in contact with a backing layer (65) of an applied material (64), A rotation sensor (63) monitors the idler wheel (61) and generates a rotational signal. A controller (24) is coupled to the rotation sensor (63) and determines a characteristic of one or more flaws and FOD (19) on a composite structure (12) in response to the rotation signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2008Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Reed Hannebaum, Tim Pollock
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Patent number: 7715897Abstract: A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric that exhibits a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers. The amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to the amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one radiation source and at least one radiation detector, with the detector disposed in the aperture of acceptance.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2004Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Textronics, Inc.Inventor: George W. Coulston
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Patent number: 7684033Abstract: In an apparatus at a spinning preparatory plant for detecting foreign objects, for example, pieces of cloth, tapes, string, pieces of sheeting and the like, in fibre material, the fibre material is transportable in an air flow through a fibre transport duct or a feed chute and an optical sensor system is associated with the duct or chute, the wall surfaces of which have at least one transparent region through which the sensor system detects the fibre-air flow. To permit the at least one transparent region to be kept clean in a simple manner during operation, and to permit an unobstructed detection of the foreign objects, the transparent region projects into the fibre-air flow and the fibre-air flow is able to flow along the transparent region in force-applying contact therewith.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Guido Engels, Franz Nohr, Konrad Temburg
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Patent number: 7659730Abstract: The invention concerns a measuring apparatus for the detection of foreign bodies in a product, in particular in tobacco, cotton or some other fibrous product, having a measuring device, a device for generating an alternating electromagnetic field in the measuring device, which is influenced by a product which is arranged in a measuring volume of the measuring apparatus, a circuit device which includes the measuring device and which is designed to determine at least one suitable measurable variable of the alternating field influenced by the product, and an evaluating device which is designed for detection of the foreign body by suitable evaluation of the measurable variable determined with the circuit device, and is distinguished in that the measuring device is a measuring capacitor and the frequency of the alternating field is in the high-frequency range below the microwave range. The application further concerns a corresponding measuring method.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2005Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AgInventor: Dierk Schröder
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Patent number: 7601978Abstract: Fabric wrinkles are automatically evaluated using a reliable, accurate, affordable, and efficient system. Two algorithms are used, the facet model algorithm and the plane-cutting algorithm, to extract features for evaluating wrinkles in fabrics. These algorithms eliminate the need for independent evaluation of a fabric specimen by a technician.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2003Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Inventors: Hamed Sari-Sarraf, Eric Hequet, Christopher N. Turner, Aijun Zhu
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Publication number: 20090000723Abstract: An inspection system (9) includes an idler wheel (61) that is coupled to a fabrication system (8) and is in contact with a backing layer (65) of an applied material (64), A rotation sensor (63) monitors the idler wheel (61) and generates a rotational signal. A controller (24) is coupled to the rotation sensor (63) and determines a characteristic of one or more flaws and FOD (19) on a composite structure (12) in response to the rotation signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: THE BOEING CORPORATIONInventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Reed Hannebaum, Tim Pollock
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Publication number: 20080301911Abstract: In a device for identifying undesirable particles in textile fibre material, especially on spinning preparation machines, in which the detection of the undesirable particles is effected by optoelectronic means, the fibre material can be detected by a recognition device and the measurement results can be supplied to an image-processing device. In order substantially to improve evaluation of the measurement of the undesirable particles, there is a combing-out element for at least one fibre sliver, with which a fibre tuft having open ends in the working direction and a fibre tuft having open ends opposite to the working direction can be produced. The measured values of undesirable particles at both fibre tufts can be supplied to a comparison device and the comparison values can be used for optimising setting parameters and/or structural elements of the spinning preparation machines.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Achim Breuer, Christoph Farber
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Patent number: 7424902Abstract: An inspection system (9) includes an idler wheel (61) that is coupled to a fabrication system (8) and is in contact with a backing layer (65) of an applied material (64). A rotation sensor (63) monitors the idler wheel (61) and generates a rotational signal. A controller (24) is coupled to the rotation sensor (63) and determines a characteristic of one or more flaws and FOD (19) on a composite structure (12) in response to the rotation signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: September 16, 2008Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Reed Hannebaum, Tim Pollock
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Publication number: 20080129989Abstract: In an apparatus at a spinning preparatory plant for detecting foreign objects, for example, pieces of cloth, tapes, string, pieces of sheeting and the like, in fibre material, the fibre material is transportable in an air flow through a fibre transport duct or a feed chute and an optical sensor system is associated with the duct or chute, the wall surfaces of which have at least one transparent region through which the sensor system detects the fibre-air flow. To permit the at least one transparent region to be kept clean in a simple manner during operation, and to permit an unobstructed detection of the foreign objects, the transparent region projects into the fibre-air flow and the fibre-air flow is able to flow along the transparent region in force-applying contact therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Guido Engels, Franz Nohr, Konrad Temburg
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Patent number: 6924892Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatic inspection of flatly positioned pieces of cloth with a view to detecting impurities or other irregularities in pieces of cloth. The pieces of cloth are transported past a camera (10) that is, in cooperation with a digital storage unit, configured for producing a digital image of each piece of cloth or portions of each piece of cloth; and wherein the apparatus comprises one or more light emitters (11) with a view to illuminating at least that part of a piece of cloth that is within the field of vision of the camera (10). Each piece of cloth is conveyed from a receiver conveyor (12) to a delivery conveyor (13), the field of vision of the camera (1) being configured to have at least an open area (14) between these two conveyors (12, 13), whereby the digital image is recorded during the passage of a piece of cloth from the receiver conveyor (12) to the delivery conveyor (13).Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2001Date of Patent: August 2, 2005Assignee: Jensen Denmark A/SInventor: Steen Nielsen
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Patent number: 6912048Abstract: In a method and a device for identifying foreign bodies in a base textile material, the base textile material is subjected to beams and the beams reflected on the base material are detected and converted into an electrical signal. In order to detect foreign bodies in the material in a targeted manner and to differentiate them from each other, so all or only the unwanted foreign bodies can be, for example, eliminated, the beams have two defined and different wavelength ranges and the reflected beams are simultaneously and jointly detected from the two wavelength ranges. Preferably, a first defined wavelength range can be selected in such a way that the beams reflected on the base material provide random values in the electrical signal, for at least two different foreign bodies, and another defined wavelength range for the beams is selected in such a way that the reflected beams provide an electrical signal for the two foreign bodies, in a different ratio from the first wavelength range.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2002Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Uster Technologies AGInventors: Peter Pirani, Hans Wampfler
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Patent number: 6870610Abstract: A system and method for detecting defects in a material in a liquid bath, the system including a light that illuminates the material through the liquid bath, at least one camera with a view of the material through the liquid bath, and a digital processor in communication with the at least one camera. The at least one camera transmits image data to the digital processor and the digital processor analyzes the image data to identify defects in the material. In an embodiment of the invention, the system includes an anti-turbulence interface through which the at least one camera views the material.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2002Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: DCS CorporationInventors: Andrew D. Struckhoff, Eric S. Mosser, William E. Shaw
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Publication number: 20040156044Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for identifying foreign bodies in a base textile material, wherein the base textile material is subjected to beams (35, 36) and the beams (44) reflected on the base material are detected and converted into an electrical signal. In order to detect foreign bodies in the material in a targeted manner and to differentiate them from each other, so all or only the unwanted foreign bodies can be, for example, eliminated, the beams (35, 36) emitted substantially have two defined and different wavelength ranges (&lgr;1 and &lgr;2) and the reflected beams are simultaneously and jointly detected from the two wavelength ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventors: Peter Pirani, Hans Wampfler
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Patent number: 6744498Abstract: Yarn impurities are detectable by a method and device wherein a first diameterdependent signal is obtained in a first measurement of a linearly traveling yarn, the intensity of the light for a second measurement is set as a function of the first signal to compensate for the effect of the yarn diameter on the light reflected by the yarn and then the second electrical signal can be directly evaluated for detecting yarn impurities. The invention improves the detection of impurities, for example in connection with spinning and bobbin winding machines.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.Inventors: Herbert Henze, Olav Birlem
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Patent number: 6628817Abstract: The present invention provides data analysis stations respectively for a probing tester and an automatic particle inspection machine. And, in the data analysis station, the coordinates on which the disposition of the chips are described on a product basis are equal to those on which the locations of the defects are described. Further, the station provides a function of determining which of the chips each defect belongs to. These data analysis stations are connected through a communication line. The present invention is capable of analyzing the data on a chip basis, resulting in being able to grasp the relation between how the defects are caused on each chip and the product character of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Seiji Ishikawa, Masao Sakata, Jun Nakazato, Sadao Shimoyashiro, Hiroto Nagatomo, Yuzo Taniguchi, Osamu Satou, Tsutomu Okabe, Yuzaburo Sakamoto, Kimio Muramatsu, Kazuhiko Matsuoka, Taizo Hashimoto, Yuichi Ohyama, Yutaka Ebara, Isao Miyazaki, Shuichi Hanashima
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Patent number: 6529619Abstract: The present invention provides data analysis stations respectively for a probing tester and an automatic particle inspection machine. And in the data analysis station, the coordinates on which the disposition of the chips are described on a product basis are equal to those on which the locations of the defects are described. Further, the station provides a function of determining which of the chips each defect belongs to. These data analysis stations are connected through a communication line. The present invention is capable of analyzing the data on a chip basis, resulting in being able to grasp the relation between how the defects are caused on each chip and the product character of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Seiji Ishikawa, Masao Sakata, Jun Nakazato, Sadao Shimoyashiro, Hiroto Nagatomo, Yuzo Taniguchi, Osamu Satou, Tsutomu Okabe, Yuzaburo Sakamoto, Kimio Muramatsu, Kazuhiko Matsuoka, Taizo Hashimoto, Yuichi Ohyama, Yutaka Ebara, Isao Miyazaki, Shuichi Hanashima
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Patent number: 6521906Abstract: Method of measuring a distortion angle between the longitudinal extent of the weft threads or rows of stitches in a textile strip (T) that is being continuously transported in a transporting apparatus (M) and the perpendicular to the transport direction, by means of a lighting arrangement (100A), a photoelectric sensor arrangement (107) with a plurality of sensor elements and an evaluation device (115) connected to the sensor arrangement for processing the values sampled from the sensor fields in order to obtain the distortion angle, wherein an arrangement of sensor elements with a plurality of rows and columns is used in which individual elements can be accessed as desired, and in a sequence of scanning steps different predetermined groups of sensor elements are interrogated, each of which is situated substantially on a sensor-field line, the groups involved in each scanning step being determined such that the scanned sensor-field lines are positioned at progressively altered angles with respect to the transType: GrantFiled: January 30, 2001Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Mahlo GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Karl-Heinz Beying, Gunter Abelen, Helmut Klaehsen
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Patent number: 6507393Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting removable particulates initially on a test surface or surface to be inspected. The removable particles are transferred to a portion of a tacky surface on a carrier by adhering and then removing the portion of the tacky surface from the test surface. The carrier is received by a positioning means and passed through the field of view of a surface inspection means guided by a controller. Signals from the surface inspection means are combined with coordinates from the controller to produce particle coordinates, which indicate particulates initially on the test surface. Particle coordinates on the tacky surface measured before the tacky surface is adhered and removed from the test surface can be compared with particle coordinates measured after the tacky surface is adhered and removed from the test surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2002Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Inventor: John Samuel Batchelder
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Patent number: 6462820Abstract: A moving fabric web vision inspection system. The apparatus includes at least two electronic cameras on one side of the moving fabric web for measuring the light intensity of a predetermined area of the moving fabric web. A high frequency, backlight, contrast panel on the other side of the moving fabric web provides reference point for the cameras to detect a defect. A controller connected to each of the electronic cameras generates a stop signal if the light intensity of the predetermined area of the moving fabric web deviates from a predetermined value. The predetermined value corresponds to a detected defect in the moving fabric web. Finally, a repair station downstream from the cameras allows an operator to repair a defect detected by the vision inspection system.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Sara Lee CorporationInventors: Edmund L. Pace, Glenn R. Pierce, John R. Everhart, David L. Kamp, Jimmy F. Plyler, Dennis Starnes, James Moore Schenck, George S. Noonkester
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Patent number: 6449035Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for detecting particles on surfaces. Particles are transferred from the surface to be inspected onto a tacky sheet by applying the tacky sheet to the surface and then removing the tacky sheet from the surface. Particles and defects are optically detected on the removed tacky sheet to produce location data. The tacky sheet is selected to leave no residue on the surface to be inspected. The tacky sheet is selected to be compatible with darkfield optical techniques. In one embodiment the tacky sheet is inspected prior applying the tacky sheet to the surface to be inspected, so that particles from the surface are identified as differences between the location data before and after applying the tacky sheet to the surface to be inspected. In one embodiment the tacky sheet is re-applied and reinspected many times before it is replaced.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1999Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Inventor: John Samuel Batchelder
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Patent number: 6330352Abstract: The present invention provides data analysis stations respectively for a probing tester and an automatic particle inspection machine. And, in the data analysis station, the coordinates on which the disposition of the chips are described on a product basis are equal to those on which the locations of the defects are described. Further, the station provides a function of determining which of the chips each defect belongs to. These data analysis stations are connected through a communication line. The present invention is capable of analyzing the data on a chip basis, resulting in being able to grasp the relation between how the defects are caused on each chip and the product character of the chip.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Seiji Ishikawa, Masao Sakata, Jun Nakazato, Sadao Shimoyashiro, Hiroto Nagatomo, Yuzo Taniguchi, Osamu Satou, Tsutomu Okabe, Yuzaburo Sakamoto, Kimio Muramatsu, Kazuhiko Matsuoka, Taizo Hashimoto, Yuichi Ohyama, Yutaka Ebara, Isao Miyazaki, Shuichi Hanashima
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Publication number: 20010022656Abstract: Yarn impurities are detectable by a method and device wherein a first diameter-dependent signal is obtained in a first measurement of a linearly traveling yarn, the intensity of the light for a second measurement is set as a function of the first signal to compensate for the effect of the yarn diameter on the light reflected by the yarn and then the second electrical signal can be directly evaluated for detecting yarn impurities. The invention improves the detection of impurities, for example in connection with spinning and bobbin winding machines.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2001Publication date: September 20, 2001Inventors: Herbert Henze, Olav Birlem
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Patent number: 6243166Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting impurities (F) in a fiber stream (1) of mainly textile fibers, wherein the fiber stream and at least one reference quantity (15) are artificially visually sensed. To enable even impurities which are difficult to detect to be removed with improved efficiency, the reference quantity is to be adapted at least periodically.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1998Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Zellweger Luwa AGInventor: Peter F. Aemmer
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Patent number: 6175408Abstract: An apparatus detects foreign substances in strand-like textile material, such as slivers or yarn, using a white-light LED. The color detection is effected over more than two color support points whereby the detection of foreign substances in the textile material is improved. The apparatus is preferably operated in combination with a yarn cleaner in spinning or bobbin winding machines.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1999Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.Inventors: Herbert Henze, Olav Birlem