Patent ID: 6012825
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: F21V,F21Y,G01N

Abstract:
A luminaire to illuminate an article to be visually inspected for defects, said luminaire and article being moved relative to one another, said luminaire comprising:a housing having an opening in a face thereof directed towards the article being inspected;at least one elongate light source accommodated within said housing; andat least one linear reflector within said housing and having at least one forwardly directed, angled reflective surface, said at least one reflective surface reflecting light emitted by said at least one elongate light source through said opening to illuminate a specular surface of said article being inspected as said article and luminaire move relative to one another, said at least one linear reflector being positioned relative to said at least one elongate light source such that sharp, laterally spaced linear edges of demarcation are visible on said specular surface as a result of said illumination, wherein defects in said article disrupt said linear edges as said article and luminaire move relative to one another thereby to enable defects to be visually detected.