Automated radiographic inspection system
First Claim
1. A method of determining structural conformity of a test object to a reference object for quality control of manufactured objects, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) transmitting X-ray radiation through said reference object to phosphor means for generating an optical signal, which is converted to an electronic image of said reference object;
(b) transmitting x-ray radiation through said test object to phosphor means for generating an optical signal, which is converted to an electronic image of said test object; and
(c) subtracting one of the aforesaid electronic images from the other to produce a subtractive image in which any significant structural difference between said test object and said reference object appears in sharp detail.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
In an automated real-time radiographic inspection system for detecting flaws, defects or inhomogeneities in manufactured objects, the objects (10, 11, 12, . . . ) to be tested are moved on a conveyor (20) in succession past an X-ray source (30). Penetrating X-ray radiation is transmitted through the objects (10, 11, 12, . . . ) to cause an image to be formed for each object in succession by an electronic imaging system (40). The imaging system (40) generates digital signals representative of the image for each object, and transmits the digital signals to a data processor/comparator (50). One of the objects (10, 11, 12, . . . ) may be considered as a reference object against which the other objects are compared for structural homogeneity. Thus, the electronic images of the objects (11, 12, . . . ) could be compared with the electronic image of, for example, the object (10). Alternatively, the electronic images of the test objects could be compared with an electronic reference image programmed into the data processor/comparator (50), the programmed reference image. The comparison performed by the data processor/comparator (50) is a subtraction process, which eliminates background features common to test and reference images. Thus, any flaw appearing in a test image, but not present in the reference image, stands out in sharp detail. When a flaw occurs in a test image, the subtractive process results in a non-null signal, which activates a conveyor control mechanism (70) for stopping the conveyor (20) so as to enable rejection of the flawed test object.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method of determining structural conformity of a test object to a reference object for quality control of manufactured objects, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) transmitting X-ray radiation through said reference object to phosphor means for generating an optical signal, which is converted to an electronic image of said reference object; (b) transmitting x-ray radiation through said test object to phosphor means for generating an optical signal, which is converted to an electronic image of said test object; and (c) subtracting one of the aforesaid electronic images from the other to produce a subtractive image in which any significant structural difference between said test object and said reference object appears in sharp detail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of detecting a substantial inhomogeneity in a test object, said method comprising the sequential steps of:
-
(a) forming a first image of said test object by causing penetrating electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source to pass through said test object and impinge upon a detector; (b) causing displacement of one relative to another of said radiation source, test object and detector; (c) forming a second image of said test object by causing penetrating electromagnetic radiation from said radiation source to pass through said test object and impinge upon said detector; and (d) subtracting one of said first and second images from the other to produce a subtractive mage in which any substantial inhomogeneity in said test object appears. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A system for determining structural conformity of a test object to a reference object for quality control of manufactured objects, said system comprising:
-
(a) means for transmitting X-ray radiation through said reference object to phosphor means for generating an optical signal, which is converted to an electronic image of said reference object; (b) means for transmitting X-ray radiation through said test object to phosphor means for generating an optical signal, which is converted to an electronic image of said test object; and (c) means for subtracting one of said electronic images from the other to produce a subtractive image in which any significant structural difference between said test object and said reference object appears in sharp detail.
-
-
11. A system for detecting a substantial inhomogeneity in a test object, said system comprising:
-
(a) means for forming a first image of said test object by causing penetrating electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source to pass through said test object and impinge upon a detector; (b) means for causing displacement of one relative to another of said radiation source, test object and detector; (c) means for forming a second image of said test object by causing penetrating electromagnetic radiation from said radiation source to pass through said test object and impinge upon said detector; and (d) means for subtracting one of said first and second images from the other to produce a subtractive image in which any substantial inhomogeneity in said test object appears.
-
Specification