Patent ID: 8993914
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: B07C

Abstract:
1. A high-speed, high-resolution, triangulation-based, 3-D method of inspecting manufactured parts and sorting the inspected parts, the method comprising; receiving a supply of parts; consecutively transferring the parts so that the parts move along a path which extends from the supply of parts and through an imaging station; supporting a triangulation-based sensor head at the imaging station, the sensor head being configured to generate focused lines of radiation and to sense corresponding reflected lines of radiation; delivering the focused lines onto an end surface of each part during motion of the parts relative to the focused lines to obtain a corresponding array of reflected lines of radiation, the sensor head sensing the array of reflected lines to obtain a corresponding set of 2-D profile signals, the set of profile signals representing a 3-D view of the end surface; processing the set of 2-D profile signals of each part to identify parts having an unacceptable defect; directing parts identified as having an unacceptable defect to a defective part area; and directing parts not identified as having an unacceptable defect to an acceptable part area.