Patent ID: 6031200
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
A camera system for capturing an image of a kerf cut through a sheet of material by a cutting head, said camera system comprising:a video camera having a lens and an output device for sending an output signal; anda mechanical mounting system for attaching said video camera to the cutting head such that said video camera is maintained in a predetermined position such that a camera axis of said video camera is substantially parallel to a cutting axis of the cutting head and such that an optical centerline of said video camera is in substantial alignment with a centerline of said kerf, said mechanical mounting system comprising;a rotary joint dimensioned for rotatable attachment to the cutting head such that said optical centerline of said video camera may be rotated azimuthally around said cutting head to align said centerline with the centerline of the kerf;a Z-axis slide attached to said rotary joint for adjusting a height of said video camera relative to the cutting head such that said video camera is focused upon a predetermined position upon the kerf; anda camera mount fixedly joining said camera to said Z-axis slide such that said camera axis of said video camera is maintained in substantially parallel relation to the cutting head;wherein the cutting head moves in a predetermined pattern to cut the kerf in the sheet of material and wherein the camera system captures an image of the predetermined position upon the kerf by rotating the camera axis about the cutting head such that the optical centerline of the video camera is aligned with the centerline of the kerf, adjusting the height of the video camera relative to the cutting head such that said lens of said video camera focuses upon the predetermined position upon the kerf, and capturing the image of the predetermined position upon the kerf with said video camera.