Apparatus and method for detecting contamination of object by a metal
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting contamination of an object by a metal or other electrolyte, which apparatus comprises a metal detector associated with a computer programmed to present a signal from the metal detector upon a visual display unit and to accept input from a keyboard or other data input device so as to modify the form of the signal displayed on the visual display unit, characterized in that it comprises:
- a mechanism for transporting the object relative to a scanning station at which the object is to be scanned;
a metal detector located at the scanning station and adapted to scan the object and to generate an observed signal corresponding to the effect of the contamination present in the object on the signal generated from the metal detector;
computer means for comparing the observed signal from the metal detector with a calibration signal corresponding to an object having an acceptable level of contamination, and for identifying when an observed signal received from the metal detector deviates by an unacceptable amount from that calibration signal;
display means for displaying in visual graphical form the observed signal from the metal detector and the calibration signal; and
means for use by an operator for varying the calibration signal displayed on the display means.
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Abstract
The present invention provides apparatus for interactively observing metal or other electrolyte contamination of a product against a reference datum or calibration signal for that product; and modifying the datum signal on line to reflect changes in tolerances between the calibration and observed signals. The method can be used to optimise the calibration signal for a given product; or can be used to identify specific contaminants based upon their effect on the calibration signal. The invention enables an operator to optimise the calibration signal inter actively and thus reduce inaccuracies in the detection of contaminated products due to incorrect tolerances between the calibration and observed signals.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting contamination of an object by a metal or other electrolyte, which apparatus comprises a metal detector associated with a computer programmed to present a signal from the metal detector upon a visual display unit and to accept input from a keyboard or other data input device so as to modify the form of the signal displayed on the visual display unit, characterized in that it comprises:
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a mechanism for transporting the object relative to a scanning station at which the object is to be scanned;
a metal detector located at the scanning station and adapted to scan the object and to generate an observed signal corresponding to the effect of the contamination present in the object on the signal generated from the metal detector;
computer means for comparing the observed signal from the metal detector with a calibration signal corresponding to an object having an acceptable level of contamination, and for identifying when an observed signal received from the metal detector deviates by an unacceptable amount from that calibration signal;
display means for displaying in visual graphical form the observed signal from the metal detector and the calibration signal; and
means for use by an operator for varying the calibration signal displayed on the display means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17)
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13. A system for detecting contamination of an object by a metal or other electrolyte, comprising:
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a metal detector located at the scanning station and adapted to scan the object and to generate an observed signal corresponding to the effect of the contamination present in the object on the signal generated from the metal detector;
a computer for comparing the observed signal from the metal detector with a calibration signal corresponding to an object having an acceptable level of contamination, and for identifying when an observed signal received from the metal detector deviates by an unacceptable amount from that calibration signal; and
a display unit for displaying in visual graphical form the observed signal from the metal detector and the calibration signal, wherein the computer is programmed to display both the calibration and observed signals on the display such that an operator can visually observe the effect of varying the calibration signal in relation to the observed signal so as to permit interactive and/or on-line optimization of the calibration signal with respect to the observed signals for products that contain an acceptable level of a contaminant. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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18. A system for detecting contamination of an object by a metal or other electrolyte, comprising:
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a metal detector located at the scanning station and adapted to scan the object and to generate an observed signal corresponding to the effect of the contamination present in the object on the signal generated from the metal detector;
a computer for comparing the observed signal from the metal detector with a calibration signal corresponding to an object having an acceptable level of contamination, and for identifying when an observed signal received from the metal detector deviates by an unacceptable amount from that calibration signal; and
a display unit for displaying in visual graphical form the observed signal from the metal detector and the calibration signal, wherein the computer is programmed to display the signal from the metal detector as a loop-like display on the display unit, the signal having a characteristic form and orientation for the object being observed, the envelope for one such display for the calibration signal containing the envelope for the display of the observed signal or vice versa. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification