Patent ID: 6169600
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: A24C,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
An inspection system for optically inspecting substantially an entire circumference of a cylindrical surface of a cylindrical object comprising:a first movable support for supporting and transporting a cylindrical object so that a first side of a cylindrical surface of said cylindrical object is presented to a first visual inspection apparatus; a first illumination source for illuminating said first side of said cylindrical surface when said first side of said cylindrical surface is presented to said first visual inspection apparatus, said first illumination source configured to direct light onto said cylindrical surface along a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical surface at a low, acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical object being inspected; a second movable support for receiving said cylindrical object from said first movable support and for supporting and transporting said cylindrical object so that a second side of said cylindrical surface is presented to a second visual inspection apparatus, said second side of said cylindrical surface including at least all portions of said cylindrical surface which are not included in said first side; a second illumination source for illuminating said second side of said cylindrical surface when said second side of said cylindrical surface is presented to said second visual inspection apparatus, said second illumination source configured to direct light onto said cylindrical surface along said longitudinal axis of said object at a low, acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical object; and wherein said first and said second visual inspection apparatus comprise first and second image capture devices for capturing first and second images of said cylindrical object, said first image corresponding to said first side of said cylindrical surface and said second image corresponding to said second side of said cylindrical surface.