FI58692C - ANORDNING FOER OPTISK AVSOEKNING AV ETT FOEREMAOL - Google Patents

Description

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Patents granted 10 03 1381 -Patent oeddeiat ^ (51) Kv.ik. ^ int.ci7i G OT S 11/10 (21) Patanttlhakamui - Patantana6knlng TT0007 (22) H »Kaml« clouds - Aruöknlngidtg 03-01.77 (Fl) ( 23) Initial Cloud - Glltlghatsdag 0 3.01.7 7 (41) Become Public - Bllvlt offentllg 09-07-77

Patent and Registration Office Nthtlvlk.lp.non and Hearing Publication Date- .. An

Patent · och registerstyrelsen 'Antökan utlagd oeh utl.tkrlften publlcarad eiO.ll.OU

(32) (33) (31) Request · ** / privilege — Begärd prloritet 08.01.76

Sweden-Sweden (SE) 76OOIU1-I

(71) (72) Martin Hammar, Erik Sandbergs Gata 21, S-171 3 ^ Solna, Sweden-Sweden (SE) (7 * 0 Oy Kolster Ab (5 * 0 Optical examination of an object - Anordning för optisk avsökning av ett förem & l

The present invention relates to an apparatus for optical examination of an object, the apparatus comprising a measuring station having a plurality of light emitting means for emitting light towards the object to be examined and a corresponding number of light receiving means for receiving light reflected from or alternatively passing by the object. the number of light-receiving and non-illuminated light-receiving organs respectively.

Such known devices, see, for example, the device according to U.S. Pat. The measurement accuracy has been limited, on the one hand, by the size of the photocells used and, on the other, by the overlap of angles between adjacent photocells. For the purpose of increasing the optical resolution of such measuring devices, it has also been proposed to use light-conducting fibers as light-transmitting and light-receiving elements, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,233,337. · However, the resolution of this known device is also limited by the inevitable distance between two successive fiber cores.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device as defined in the species definition of claim 1 which, without the risk of overlapping angles, can perform said examination with an optical difference corresponding to or even less than the size of the light emitting members. This object is achieved by a device according to the invention having the features indicated in claim 1.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows two embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 schematically shows in perspective the measuring station included in the device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the measuring frame included in the measuring station according to Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of arrows II-II.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a device according to the invention, in which the electrical and optical circuits included therein are also shown.

Fig. 4 schematically shows in perspective the mutual grouping of light transmitting and light receiving means in the device according to Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 schematically shows how the light emitting elements according to Fig. 2 are activated sequentially.

Fig. 6 schematically shows how the light emitting elements in the measuring frame according to Fig. 2 are grouped in the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 schematically shows a mutual grouping of light emitting and light receiving members, respectively, according to a second embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a log measuring device comprising a measuring station 40 through which a log 41, the thickness of which is to be measured, is passed over longitudinally immovable control elements 42 and 43 in a non-longitudinal manner. matched, light-emitting fiber ends that are light-conducting cults 46 in the first bundle (see Figure 3). To facilitate clarification of the invention, only 39 fiber ends 1-39 are drawn in the drawing (see Figure 6). In this case, however, it is to be understood that several hundred fibers are preferably arranged in the log measuring device in question. Each fiber is formed in a known manner from a core 1a (see Fig. 2), which is glass or other transparent material having a relatively high refractive index and is surrounded by a layer Ib having a low refractive index. The mutual arrangement of the ends of the fibers is shown in Figures 2 and 6. At one end of the measuring station there is a vertical column 47 with measuring frames 48 containing a corresponding number of light-receiving cult heads 101, 102, etc., in a second bundle (see Figure 3). ) · The cobs 101 to 139 have the same mutual arrangement as the cobs 1 to 39. The view in the direction of arrows II 'to II' in Fig. 1 therefore has exactly the appearance shown in Fig. 2. See also Fig. 4, which schematically shows in the measuring frames 43 and. The beam paths 1 to 6 and 101 to 106, respectively, of the ends of the six uppermost fibers in the 48. The other equipment of the measuring station, which is shown in more detail in Fig. 3, is placed in a horizontal panel 30 attached to vertical columns 44 and 47.

As shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the fibers are arranged in three vertical rows, which are moved parallel to each other by a distance d, for which 1 mm is preferably chosen. The distance between the ends of two consecutive fibers in the same row is then 34, i.e. 3 mm. Thus, a distance of 1 mmtn is obtained between each light beam starting from the respective fiber end 1-39 to the corresponding fiber end 101-139 (see also Fig. 4). Seen from above, see Fig. 3, all the light rays coming from the ends 1-39 of the kdtu pass directly over each other in the central region 31 of the measuring frames 43 and 48.

In front of each vertical row of fiber ends in the measurement frames 43 and 48, a cylinder line 32-37 is arranged, see Fig. 3, which shapes the light emanating from the respective fiber ends and arriving at the respective fiber ends as substantially parallel light beams. In this case, if an optical insulator is fitted between the light walls, it is possible to provide straight light paths with a rectangular cross-section, a width approximately equal to the width of the cylinder lens and a height equal to the active diameter te of the light guide. 1 mm. However, cylinder cylinders may be omitted for certain measurements.

The device according to Fig. 3 comprises a light probe consisting of three ballast diodes 38-60 arranged on a circular plate 61 rigidly connected to a shaft 63 driven by a motor 62. · A plate 64 is also rigidly attached to the shaft 63, which on the other hand supports a photocell 63 to 87, on the other hand, a light emitting diode 68 to 70 activating each photocell.

The fibers 48 each include a stationary pattern, of which rasters 71 to 73 are shown, which rasters are adapted to successively rotate the shaft 63 to turn off and then open the light between the light emitting diode and the corresponding light element 63 to 87 so that the light emitting diode is sequentially activated for 3 / Us and the valalsudlodlt then emit light in a predetermined order to the respective ends of the fiber ends 1-39 each time the corresponding raster opens said light path.

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The shaft 63 also rigidly supports a circular plate 74 to which three phototransistors 75 to 77 are mounted, each of which is arranged so that as the shaft 63 rotates in them a portion of light from each of the respective fiber ends 101 to 139. The holder 63 is also rigidly fixed to the shaft 63 » supporting three amplifiers 79 to 81 »each with two inputs and one output and adapted to output an amplified pulse» if one input receives a signal from a corresponding phototransistor 75 to 77 at the same time as the other input receives a 5yus signal from a corresponding photocell 65 - 67. The pulses »present at the output of the amplifiers 79-81» are applied to an illumination diode 82 »located at one end of the shaft 63» which then produces light pulses »which are sensed by the stationary photocell 83. This delivers electrical measuring pulses to the counting circuit 84 »which subtracts from the total number of cults (39) the sum of the number of measuring pulses during the» period when the shaft 63 rotates one revolution »which difference forms a measure of the thickness of the object 41.

The stationary photodiode 83 is adapted to illuminate the photocell 86 each time a hole 87 in the plate 74 opens the light path between them. Each illumination of the photocell 86 generates an electrical pulse »adapted to be applied to the reset circuit 84 and reset.

The stationary fibers 46 »having a first end 1-39 shown in Figures 2 and 6 are at their second ends 1 'to 39'» of which the ends 1 'to 3' are shown in Figure 3 »attached to a stationary circular plate 88. The stationary fibers 49» having a first end 101 - 139 is fixed to the measuring frame 48 in the manner described above »is at its other ends 101 'to 139', of which the ends 101 'to 103'» are shown in Fig. 3 »fixed to a stationary circular plate 89.

The principle of the Yalot radar is more clearly seen in Figures 3 and 6 together with Figure 3. The screen 73 »the light emitting diode 60 and the fiber end 1 'are positioned so that when the screen 73 opens the light path between the light emitting diode 70 and the photocell 67, only the light emitting diode 60 is located opposite the fiber end, namely opposite the fiber end 1' (see Figure 3). , which then receives light which travels in the corresponding light-conducting fiber to the fiber end 1 (see Fig. 3), which transmits a light beam through the measuring station 40 to the east of the fiber 101 if the object 41 does not cover the light beam. Light then passes from the fiber end 101 through the corresponding light-conducting fiber to the fiber end 101 *. The yalotransistor 77 is then arranged to be located opposite the fiber end 101 'and to transmit an electrical pulse to the amplifier 81. At the same time, the amplifier 81 receives a 5 / ue signal from the photocell 67, whereby the output pulse to the light emitting diode 82 is obtained from the amplifier 81.

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The shaft 63 rotates in the meantime the distance of the piece (see Fig. 3) * so that the lighting diode 59 is located opposite the end 2 'of the fiber. The raster 72 is positioned so that it now opens a light path between the light emitting diode 69 and the photocell 66, whereby the light emitting diode 59 transmits light to the fiber end 2 ', the fiber end 102' transmitting light (unless the object 41 obscures the light beam) to the light transistor 76 that the light emitting diode 82 receives a pulse again.

As the shaft 63 continues to rotate, the light emitting diode 58 illuminates the fiber end 3 ', then the light emitting diode 60 illuminates the fiber end 4', and so on.

The measuring frame 45 has fiber ends 1-9 «see Fig. 6, arranged in sequential order from top to bottom. All fiber ends 11, 13 to 39 »having an odd sequence number are then arranged in sequential order after ends 1-9. All fiber ends 10, 12 to 36 »with an even sequence are arranged in sequential order from bottom to top on the measuring frame 45 *

The grouping of fibers according to Figure 6 thus gives first a downward light scan (of fibers 1-9) and then two gradually and alternately approaching light scans (of fibers 10, 12-38 and 11, 13-39, respectively). In the example shown in Figure 6, the upward light scan is interrupted from the fiber 28 and the downward light scan is broken from the fiber 29. Thus, in this case, the object 41 covers the light path of the twelve fibers 2Θ to 39, as indicated by the landing circuit 84. Furthermore, the grouping of the fiber ends 1-39 is chosen taking into account the most common dimensions of the object 41 so that both opposing wipes are calculated to reach contact substantially substantially with the corresponding surface of the object 41. By using two sweeps, the effect of any upward or downward movement of the object 41 during feeding through the measuring station 40 is reduced.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the light emitting diodes 58-60 and the light transistors 75-77 are supplemented by a second set of light emitting diodes and light transceivers with their respective trigger circuits and amplifiers, the light conductors 46 and 49 and their ends being arranged to provide two simultaneously close to each other. Thus, a doubling of the sweep speed is achieved. Since the construction of the latter embodiment takes place in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 3, it will not be shown or described in more detail in this connection.

In the embodiment shown, the measuring station 40 has only one pair of opposite measuring frames. When measuring in several measuring directions, the measuring station is equipped with several opposite pairs of measuring frames, whereby the pairs 6 58692 are rotated relative to each other.

In order to avoid unnecessary loading of the drawing, the circuits necessary for transmitting force to the active components included in the device according to the invention have not been drawn. However, it is obvious that this transmission can take place e.g. inductively, as shown in Fig. 3 at 90.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the ends 1-39 and 101-139 of the fibers are grouped into a common measuring frame 91 in the manner shown schematically in Figure 7. This embodiment is particularly suitable if the object has a flat, light-reflecting surface to be mapped.

The light receiving members 101-139 then receive light from the respective light emitting members 1-39 only if the object reflects the transmitted light. The number of light-receiving members illuminated is then a uniform measure of the width of the surface.

Although the disclosed embodiments are intended to measure the thickness or width of an article, it is still apparent that the invention can also be applied to, e.g., determining the edge, marking, discontinuity, and the like of an article. The invention can advantageously be used e.g. in determining the curvature of an object.

Thus, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described, but a large number of variations and modifications are conceivable within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (7)

7,58692 Claims: An apparatus for optically examining an object (4l) »comprising: a measuring station (40) having a plurality of light emitting means (1-39) for transmitting light per object to be examined and a corresponding number of light receiving means (101-139) for receiving light» which is reflected the object or alternatively passes it »wherein the lowering means (64) are adapted to count the number of illuminated and non-illuminated light receiving members, respectively» characterized in that the light emitting means (1-39) are thus arranged in the first group and the light receiving means (101-139 ) to the second group »that each such group comprises at least two parallel rows of light emitting and light receiving elements, respectively» wherein the light emitting and light receiving elements in each row are arranged in rows at a common »equal distance (3d) from each other and the rows of each group are shifted thus in parallel that the outermost light emitting or light receiving member in the second row of the group (2 or 102, respectively) is located in the outermost (1 or 101, respectively) and closest outermost (4 or 104, respectively) rows in the first row of the light emitting or light receiving group. between the existing body. Device according to claim 1, characterized by moving light sources (38-60) »arranged in succession to cause the light emitting means (1-39) in each row to emit light so that each row emits two gradually approaching light scans. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each row of light emitting means is formed by a second end (1-39) of stationary light-conducting first-age fibers (46) from which a number of fibers are selected, and that each row of light-receiving members is formed by fixed light-conducting members. one end of the second cults (49) having a corresponding number of fibers, each end of the first cults (1T -39 *) being arranged to sequentially supply light to the entire row from a common moving light source (58-60) and each other end of the second fibers (101 * -139 ') is adapted to be mapped sequentially to the entire row by a common, moving photosensitive member (75-77). Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that every second of a predetermined number of first cults (46) with successively illuminated distal ends (9% 11 ', 13' to 39 ') is grouped in such a way that 1 - f 8 58692 the respective first ends (9,11,13-39) of all these fibers are arranged at a gradually increasing distance from the first end of the rows, while all the first ends (10,12,14-38) of the other fibers of said predetermined amount of fibers are arranged at a gradually increasing distance from the rows; from the other end, so that the first ends of the first fibers, which are a predetermined number of fibers, emit light in two gradually and alternately approaching light scans. Device according to claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the light sources (36-60) are arranged to move sequentially past the second end (^ -391) of the first fibers (46) in said row and then to be activated successively for a predetermined time which once they pass one of the first fibers and that each photosensitive member (75-77) is adapted to move synchronously with the corresponding light source to move successively past the other ends of the respective second fibers (49), the members being arranged with members (65-67); , 71-73) to trigger each photosensitive member at the same time as the corresponding light source is activated. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the photosensitive members (75-77) are each adapted to provide an electrical pulse to the counting member (84) each time the photosensitive member is both activated and illuminated, the lowering members being adapted to add up such pulses. the number of times it takes for light to pass to all of the first fibers (46). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the light-emitting elements (1 to 39) are arranged relative to the light-receiving elements (101 to 139) in such a way that the connecting lines between the lime light-emitting element and the corresponding light-receiving element run substantially directly between each other in the area between the light emitting means and the light receiving means (51). 9,58692