Patent ID: 8941731
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: G01N,G02B,H01R,H04N

Abstract:
1. An inspection system comprising: a first and a second connector movable relative to each other between an unlocked partially connected position and a locked fully connected position, an indicator attached to said first connector which becomes hidden from view only when the first and second connectors are in said locked fully connected position, a camera which generates an output signal representative of the appearance of objects present at an inspection station, said camera positioned to detect the indicator, if visible, when the first and second connectors are at the inspection station, and an optical recognition circuit which receives the output signal from the camera, determines if the indicator is visible in the camera output signal and generates an alarm signal if the first and second connectors are in a partially connected position based upon the presence of the indicator in the camera output signal, wherein said indicator comprises a pattern applied to said first connector, wherein the first connector includes a ramp and the second connector includes a flexible and resilient locking tab having a hook which travels along said ramp as said connectors move from said unlocked partially connected position to said locked fully connected position, wherein said hook of said locking tab covers a side of said ramp only when the first and second connectors are in the locked fully connected position, and wherein said indicator is attached to said side of said ramp, wherein when said first and second connectors are moved to said locked fully connected position said hook of said locking tab simultaneously covers said indicator and also locks said first and second connectors together, and wherein said ramp deflects said locking tab away from said second connector to expose said indicator to said camera when said first and second connectors are in a partially connected position.