Optical inspection apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An optical inspection apparatus comprising:
- a first and a second profile sensor units for simultaneously scanning a profile of at least two adjacent surfaces of an article moving along a travel path axis passing through an inspection area located at a central plane traverse to said travel path axis, whereinthe first profile sensor unit having a first optical sensing field directed toward said travel path axis and defining a first scanning zone associated with a first one of said adjacent surfaces as intersected by said first sensing field, and a first laser source directing at an angle with said first sensing field a first fan-shaped laser beam toward the first scanning zone to define an associated first scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, to generate first sensor output data related to the profile of said first article surface; and
the second profile sensor unit having a second optical sensing field directed toward said travel path axis and defining a second scanning zone associated with a second one of said adjacent surfaces as intersected by said second sensing field, and a second laser source directing at an angle with said second sensing field a second fan-shaped laser beam toward the second scanning zone to define an associated second scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, to generate second sensor output data related to the profile of said second article surface;
wherein the first and second profile sensor units are disposed one with respect to another so that;
their respective first and second scanning zones are sufficiently spaced one with another along said travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between said first and second profile sensor units; and
one of said first sensing field and said first laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said first sensing field and said first laser beam, one of said second sensing field and said second laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said second sensing field and said second laser beam, to provide a compact arrangement of said first and second profile sensor units.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical apparatus and method for simultaneously scanning the profile of at least two adjacent surfaces of an article such as a wooden board moving along a travel path axis passing through an inspection area located at a central plane transverse to the travel path axis, involve first and second scanning zones sufficiently spaced one with another along the travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between the profile sensors used, while providing a compact arrangement of profile sensors. For so doing, one the first sensing field and the first laser beam of the first profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the first sensing field and the first laser beam, and one the second sensing field and the second laser beam of the second profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the second sensing field and the second laser beam.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An optical inspection apparatus comprising:
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a first and a second profile sensor units for simultaneously scanning a profile of at least two adjacent surfaces of an article moving along a travel path axis passing through an inspection area located at a central plane traverse to said travel path axis, wherein the first profile sensor unit having a first optical sensing field directed toward said travel path axis and defining a first scanning zone associated with a first one of said adjacent surfaces as intersected by said first sensing field, and a first laser source directing at an angle with said first sensing field a first fan-shaped laser beam toward the first scanning zone to define an associated first scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, to generate first sensor output data related to the profile of said first article surface; and the second profile sensor unit having a second optical sensing field directed toward said travel path axis and defining a second scanning zone associated with a second one of said adjacent surfaces as intersected by said second sensing field, and a second laser source directing at an angle with said second sensing field a second fan-shaped laser beam toward the second scanning zone to define an associated second scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, to generate second sensor output data related to the profile of said second article surface; wherein the first and second profile sensor units are disposed one with respect to another so that; their respective first and second scanning zones are sufficiently spaced one with another along said travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between said first and second profile sensor units; and one of said first sensing field and said first laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said first sensing field and said first laser beam, one of said second sensing field and said second laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said second sensing field and said second laser beam, to provide a compact arrangement of said first and second profile sensor units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An optical inspection apparatus comprising:
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a first, a second, a third and a fourth profile sensor units for simultaneously scanning a profile of an article having a top surface and a first side surface adjacent thereto, a bottom surface and a second side surface adjacent thereto, said article moving along a travel path axis passing through an inspection area located at a central plane traverse to said travel path axis, wherein the first profile sensor unit having a first optical sensing field directed toward said travel path axis and defining a first scanning zone associated with said top surface as intersected by said first sensing field, and a first laser source directing at an angle with said first sensing field a first fan-shaped laser beam toward the first scanning zone to define an associated first scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, to generate first sensor output data related to the profile of said top article surface; the second profile sensor unit having a second optical sensing field directed toward said travel path axis and defining a second scanning zone associated with said first side surface as intersected by said second sensing field, and a second laser source directing at an angle with said second sensing field a second fan-shaped laser beam toward the second scanning zone to define an associated second scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, to generate second sensor output data related to the profile of said first side article surface; wherein the first and second profile sensor units are disposed one with respect to another so that; their respective first and second scanning zones are sufficiently spaced one with another along said travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between said first and second profile sensor units; and one of said first sensing field and said first laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said first sensing field and said first laser beam, one of said second sensing field and said second laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said second sensing field and said second laser beam, to provide a compact arrangement of said first and second profile sensor units; the third profile sensor unit having a third optical sensing field directed toward said travel path axis and defining a third scanning zone associated with said bottom surface as intersected by said third sensing field, and a third laser source directing at an angle with said third sensing field a third fan-shaped laser beam toward the third scanning zone to define an associated third scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, to generate third sensor output data related the profile of said bottom article surface; the fourth profile sensor unit having a fourth optical sensing field directed toward said travel path axis and defining a fourth scanning zone associated with said second side surface as intersected by said fourth sensing field, and a fourth laser source directing at an angle with said fourth sensing field a fourth fan-shaped laser beam toward the fourth scanning zone to define a fourth associated scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, to generate fourth sensor output data related the profile of said second side article surface; wherein the third and fourth profile sensor units are disposed one with respect to another so that; their respective third and fourth scanning zones are sufficiently spaced one with another along said travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between said third and fourth profile sensor units; and one of said third sensing field and said third laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said third sensing field and said third laser beam, one of said fourth sensing field and said fourth laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said fourth sensing field and said fourth laser beam, to provide a compact arrangement of said third and fourth profile sensor units. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An optical method for simultaneously scanning a profile of at least two adjacent surfaces of an article moving along a travel path axis passing through an inspection area located at a central plane transverse to said travel path axis, the method comprising the simultaneous steps of:
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directing a first optical sensing field of a first profile sensor toward said travel path axis, said first sensing field defining a first scanning zone associated with a first one of said adjacent surfaces as intersected by said first sensing field; directing at an angle with said first sensing field a first fan-shaped laser beam toward the first scanning zone to define an associated first scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, causing said first profile sensor to generate first sensing output data related the profile of said first article surface; directing a second optical sensing field of a second sensor toward said travel path axis, said second sensing filed defining a second scanning zone associated with a second one of said adjacent surfaces as intersected by said second sensing field; directing at an angle with said second sensing field a second fan-shaped laser beam toward the second scanning zone to define an associated second scanning plane transverse to said travel path axis, causing said second profile sensor to generate second sensor output data related the profile of said second article surface; wherein the first and second scanning zones are sufficiently spaced one with another along said travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between said first and second profile sensors; and one of said first sensing field and said first laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said first sensing field and said first laser beam, one of said second sensing field and said second laser beam is crossing the central plane toward the other one of said second sensing field and said second laser beam, to provide a compact arrangement of said first and second profile sensors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification