Abstract:
A quality inspection system and method for identifying faulty battery plates is provided, wherein the plates comprise lead grids that have undergone a pasting process. In various embodiments, the quality inspection system includes a first scanner positioned to sequentially scan a first surface of each of a plurality of the battery plates, after the lead grids have undergone the pasting process. The first scanner scans the first surface of each plate for anomalies and communicates scanned first surface data to a processing center. The processing center analyzes the first surface data and determines an integrity status of the first surface, i.e., whether anomalies exist in the first surface. If anomalies exist in the first surface of any plate the respective plate can be discarded.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present teachings relate to quality inspection of plates used in the manufacturing lead-acid batteries. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    Lead-acid batteries are used to provide an electrical power source for many different uses. For example, lead-acid batteries are prevalently used as a power source to provide power for starting, lighting, and ignition services on all types of vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks, boats, trains, aircraft, submarines, and almost all other motive vehicles. Additionally, lead-acid batteries are commonly utilized as a power source for operating electric motors of light-weight utility vehicles, such as small cargo/maintenance vehicles, shuttle vehicles or golf cars. Other vital uses of lead-acid batteries are driving some electric equipment, such as wenches or a mechanical lift, and providing stand-by emergency power storage in places such as hospitals and telephone exchanges where it is vital to have an uninterrupted power supply. 
         [0004]    The most common type of lead-acid battery consists of a heavy duty plastic box containing lead alloy pasted grids. Typically, spaces in lead grids are ‘pasted’ with a lead oxide paste. When immersed in sulphuric acid, these pasted grids, i.e., plates, form an electric cell that produces electricity from the chemical reactions that occur. One known ‘pasting’ process consists of applying a lead oxide paste to each grid. The paste is then pushed down through the grids, typically with a roller, against a conveyor belt on which the plates are processed. The paste then spreads out underneath each plate and is allowed to ‘set up’ during a pre-drying stage. 
         [0005]    Typically, as each plate emerges from the pasting operation, an operator visually inspects the pasted grids, i.e., plates, to monitor the quality of the plates. Defective plates, that is, plates having lumps or voids, are typically hand removed to a discard or re-work bin. However, inconsistencies and oversight can commonly occur with this visual inspection process, resulting in defective batteries. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A quality inspection system and method for identifying faulty battery plates is provided, wherein the plates comprise lead grids that have undergone a pasting process. In various embodiments, the quality inspection system includes a first scanner, e.g., a laser or video device, positioned to sequentially scan a first surface of each of a plurality of the battery plates, after the lead grids have undergone the pasting process. The first scanner scans the first surface of each plate for anomalies and communicates the scanned first surface data to a processing center. The processing center analyzes the first surface data and determines an integrity status of the first surface, i.e., whether anomalies exist in the first surface. If anomalies exist in the first surface of any plate the respective plate can be discarded. 
         [0007]    Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an automated battery plate quality inspection system (ABPQIS), in accordance with various embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an exemplary battery plate that can be inspected using the ABPQIS shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the ABPQIS, shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating a pair of scanning devices and an automatic discard device, in accordance with various embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the ABPQIS, shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating an automatic discard device, in accordance with various other embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the ABPQIS, shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating an automatic discard device, in accordance with yet other various embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the ABPQIS, shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating an automatic discard device, in accordance with still yet other various embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the ABPQIS, shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating a single scanner for inspecting two sides of a battery plate, in accordance with various embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, application, or uses. Throughout this specification, like reference numerals will be used to refer to like elements. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in various embodiments, an automated battery plate quality inspection system (ABPQIS)  10  is provided for identifying faulty battery plates  14 . The plates  14  are generally used in lead acid batteries and include a lead grid  18  that includes a plurality of grid apertures or orifices  22 . Each grid  18  has a lead alloy paste, e.g., a lead-oxide paste, applied and forced into the grid apertures  22 . The paste can be applied and forced into the grid aperture  22  using any suitable application process and device. For example, in various embodiments, the grids  18  travel along a conveyor system  26  and through a paste machine  30 . As the grids  18  pass through the paste machine  30 , the paste machine sequentially applies the lead alloy paste to each grid  18  and forces the paste down into and through the grid apertures  22 . In various exemplary embodiments, the pasted grids, i.e., the battery plates, pass along the conveyor system  26  into a pre-dryer  34  where the paste is allowed to substantially solidify, or ‘set-up’. 
         [0018]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 1 , in various embodiments, the ABPQIS  10  includes the conveyor system  26 , a scanner  38 , and a processing center  42 . The scanner  38  is communicatively connected, i.e., either wired or wirelessly connected, with the processing center  42 . The processing center includes at least one processor  46 , i.e., and at least one electronic memory device  50 . The processor  46  can be any suitable processor for executing all functions of the ABPQIS  10 . For example, in various embodiments, the processor  46  executes a plate integrity analysis algorithm stored on the memory device  50 . Execution of the plate integrity analysis algorithm controls operation of the ABPQIS  10 , as described herein. The memory device  50  can be any suitable computer readable medium for storing such things as data, information, software programs and algorithms that are used or executed by the processor  46  during operation of the ABPQIS  10 . 
         [0019]    The scanner  38  is positioned to sequentially scan a first surface, e.g., an upper surface, of each battery plate  14  subsequent to the lead grid  18  having the lead alloy paste applied, as described above. More particularly, the scanner  38  sequentially scans the first surface of each battery plate  14 , subsequent to the pasting process, for anomalies in the first surface. As the scanner  38  scans the first surface of each battery plate  14 , the scanner  38  collects first surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the first surface, and communicates the first surface data to the processing center  42 . Anomalies in the first surface detected by the scanner  38  are any undesirable characteristics or features in the lead grid  18  and/or the lead alloy paste applied to the grid  18  that may cause defective or inefficient function of the plate  18  when the plate  18  is placed in a battery. For example, anomalies can include such things as cracks and/or bad grid joints in the lead grid  18 , and/or voids, bumps, lumps or bubbles in the lead paste. 
         [0020]    The scanner  38  can be any scanning device suitable for collecting the first surface data. For example, in various embodiments, the scanner  38  can be a laser scanner that emits a very narrow light beam that scans back and forth across the first surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the emitted beam is reflected off of the first surface back to the laser scanner  38  where the laser scanner  38  reads, or captures, the reflected signals. Bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  will diffuse the light beam emitted by laser scanner  38  in different directions such that the intensity of the reflected signal is altered. The laser scanner  38  converts the reflected signals into a digital signal that includes the first surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the first surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0021]    In various other embodiments, the scanner  38  can be an electromagnetic scanner that generates electromagnetic waves, e.g., radio frequency (RF) waves, that scan the first surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the generated electromagnetic waves are reflected off of the first surface back to the electromagnetic scanner  38  where the electromagnetic scanner  38  reads, or captures, the reflected electromagnetic waves. Bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  will alter the reflected electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic scanner  38  converts the reflected electromagnetic waves into a digital signal that includes the first surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the first surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0022]    In yet other various implementations, the scanner  38  can be an ultra-sonic scanner that generates sound waves that scan the first surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the generated sound waves are reflected off of the first surface back to the ultra-sonic scanner  38  where the ultra-sonic scanner  38  reads, or captures, the reflected sound waves. Bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  will alter the reflected sound waves. The ultra-sonic scanner  38  converts the reflected sound waves into a digital signal that includes the first surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the first surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0023]    In still yet other various embodiments, the scanner  38  can be a magnetic scanner that generates a magnetic field that scans the first surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the battery plates  14  pass through the magnetic field causing interpretable disturbances in the magnetic field. Particularly, bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  will create alterations or disturbances in the magnetic field that are detected or captured, and interpreted by the magnetic scanner  38 . The magnetic scanner  38  converts the captured disturbances into a digital signal that includes the first surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the first surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0024]    In still further various embodiments, the scanner  38  can be a video device that generates images of the first surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the battery plates  14  pass through a viewing field of the video device  38  where images of the battery plates  14  and any bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  are captured. The video device  38  converts the captured images into a digital signal that includes the first surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the first surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0025]    Once the processing center  42  receives the first surface data, the processing center  42  analyzes the first surface data to determine the integrity of the scanned first surface. Particularly, the processor  46  executes the plate integrity analysis algorithm to collect the first surface data and analyze the first surface data to determine the integrity of the first surface of each battery plate  14  as each battery plate  14  travels long the conveyor system  26 . If the integrity of the first surface of a battery plate  14  is determined to be flawed or undesirable, the processing center  42 , i.e., execution of the plate integrity analysis algorithm, identifies, or ‘flags’, the particular battery plate  14  as defective. The processing center  42  can flag the defective battery plate  14  as defective using any desirable method, device, alarm, light, signal or other suitable indicator. For example, when a particular battery plate  14  is flagged as defective, the processing center  46  can sound an alarm or illuminate a light emitting diode (LED) to inform and instruct an operator to remove the defective battery plate  14  from the conveyor system  26 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in various embodiments, the ABPQIS  10  additionally includes a second scanner  55  also communicatively connected, i.e., either wired or wirelessly connected, with the processing center  42 . The second scanner  54  is positioned to sequentially scan a second surface, e.g., a lower surface, of each battery plate  14  subsequent to the lead grid  18  having the lead alloy paste applied, as described above. More particularly, the second scanner  54  sequentially scans the second surface of each battery plate  14 , subsequent to the pasting process, for anomalies in the second surface. As the second scanner  54  scans the second surface of each battery plate  14 , the second scanner  54  collects second surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the second surface, and communicates the second surface data to the processing center  42 . 
         [0027]    As described above, with respect to the first surface, anomalies are any undesirable characteristic or feature in the lead grid  18  and/or the lead alloy paste applied to the grid  18  that may cause defective or inefficient function of the plate  18  when the plate  18  is placed in a battery. For example, anomalies can include such things as cracks and/or bad grid joints in the lead grid  18 , and/or voids, bumps, lumps or bubbles in the lead paste. To allow scanning of the second side, in various embodiments, the conveyer system includes a plurality of sections  26 A having a gap  58 , i.e., a space, slot or opening, between two adjacent conveyor sections  26 A. More specifically, as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26  subsequent to the pasting process, each battery plate  14  passes over the gap  58  as the battery plate  14  transitions from one section  26 A to a subsequent section  26 A. As each battery plate passes over the gap  58 , a width-wide portion of the second surface is exposed from, or unencumbered by, the conveyor sections  26 A such that the second scanner  54  can scan the second surface. 
         [0028]    Similar to the scanner  38 , also sometimes referred to herein as the first scanner  38 , the second scanner  54  can be any scanning device suitable for collecting the second surface data. For example, in various embodiments, the second scanner  54  can be a laser scanner that emits a very narrow light beam projected through the gap  58 . The light beam scans back and forth across the second surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel over the gap  58  and along the conveyor system  26 . The emitted beam is reflected off of the second surface back to the laser second scanner  54  where the laser second scanner  54  reads, or captures, the reflected signals. Bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  will diffuse the light beam emitted by the laser second scanner  54  in different directions such that the intensity of the reflected signal is altered. The laser second scanner  54  converts the reflected signals into a digital signal that includes the second surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the second surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0029]    In various other embodiments, the second scanner  54  can be an electromagnetic scanner that generates electromagnetic waves, e.g., radio frequency (RF) waves, that scan the second surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel over the gap  58  and along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the generated electromagnetic waves are reflected off of the second surface and back to the electromagnetic second scanner  54  where the electromagnetic second scanner  54  reads, or captures, the reflected electromagnetic waves. Bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  will alter the reflected electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic second scanner  54  converts the reflected electromagnetic waves into a digital signal that includes the second surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the second surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0030]    In yet other various implementations, the second scanner  54  is an ultra-sonic scanner that generates sound waves that scan the second surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel across the gap  58  and along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the generated sound waves are reflected off of the second surface and back to the ultra-sonic second scanner  54  where the ultra-sonic second scanner  54  reads, or captures, the reflected sound waves. Bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  will alter the reflected sounds waves. The ultra-sonic second scanner  54  converts the reflected sound waves into a digital signal that includes the second surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the second surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0031]    In still yet other various embodiments, the second scanner  54  is a magnetic scanner that generates a magnetic field that scans the second surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel across the gap  58  and along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the battery plates  14  pass through the magnetic field causing interpretable disturbances in the magnetic field. Particularly, bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  will create alterations or disturbances in the magnetic field that are detected or captured, and interpreted by the magnetic second scanner  54 . The magnetic second scanner  54  converts the captured disturbances into a digital signal that includes the second surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the second surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0032]    In still further various embodiments, the second scanner  54  can be a video device that generates images of the second surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel across the gap  58  and along conveyor system  26 . Generally, as the battery plates  14  pass across the gap  58  the video device  54  captures images of the battery plates  14  and any bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18 . The video device  54  converts the captured images into a digital signal that includes the second surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the second surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0033]    Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the processing center receives first surface data from first scanner  38  and/or second surface data from the second scanner  54 . Once the processing center  42  receives the first and/or second surface data, the processing center  42  analyzes the first and/or second surface data to determine the integrity of the first and/or second surface. Particularly, the processor  46  executes the plate integrity analysis algorithm to collect the first and/or second surface data and analyze the first and/or second surface data to determine the integrity of the first and/or second surface of each battery plate  14  as each battery plate  14  travels long the conveyor system  26 . If the integrity of the first and/or second surface of a battery plate  14  is determined to be flawed or undesirable, the processing center  42 , i.e., execution of the plate integrity analysis algorithm, identifies, or ‘flags’, the particular battery plate  14  as defective, as describe above. 
         [0034]    Still referring to  FIG. 3 , in various embodiments, the ABPQIS  10  further includes an automatic discard device  62  that is communicatively connected, i.e., wired or wirelessly connected, to the processing center  42 . If the integrity of the first and/or second surface of a battery plate  14  is determined to be flawed or undesirable, the processing center  42 , i.e., execution of the plate integrity analysis algorithm, activates the automatic discard device  62 . Activation of the discard device  62  automatically removes the defective battery plate  14  from the conveyor system  26 . That is, the discard device  62  automatically discards all battery plates  14  that are flagged as defective. The discard device  62  can be any device or mechanism suitable to automatically remove battery plates  14  flagged as defective from the conveyor system  26 . 
         [0035]    For example, in various embodiments, the discard device comprises as lift device that rotationally lifts a conveyor section  26  such that the defective battery plate  14  falls off the conveyor system  26 . More particularly, the lift device raises a leading end  66  of a conveyor section  26 A such that the defective batter plate  14  falls off a trailing end  70  of the adjacent conveyor section  26 A as the defective battery plate  14  travels along the conveyor system  26 . The lift device can be any device suitable for raising the leading end of the conveyor section  26 A to allow the defective battery plate to fall off the trailing edge  70  of the adjacent conveyor section  26 A. For example, the lift device, i.e., the discard device  62 , can be a retraction device positioned above the conveyor system  26  to pull up on the leading end  66 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Pulling up on the leading end  66  raises the conveyor section  26 A and allows the defective battery plate  14  to fall off the trailing end  70  of the adjacent conveyor section  26 A. Or, the lift device, i.e., the discard device  62 , can be an extension device positioned below the conveyor system  26  to push up on the leading end  66 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Pushing up on the leading end  66 , likewise, raises the conveyor section  26 A and allows the defective battery plate  14  to fall off the trailing end  70  of the adjacent conveyor section  26 A. A discard bin (not shown) can be positioned beneath the conveyor system  26  such that as the defective battery plates  14  fall off the trailing end  70  of the conveyor section  26 A, the defective battery plates  14  fall into the discard bin. 
         [0036]    In various other embodiments, the discard device  62  can be a sweep-arm device configured sweep or push the defective battery plate off the conveyor system  26 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . If the integrity of the first and/or second surface of a battery plate  14  is determined to be flawed or undesirable, the processing center  42  activates the sweep-arm discard device  62 . Activation of the sweep-arm discard device  62  pivotally rotates a sweep-arm  72  that contacts the defective battery plate  14  to automatically push the defective battery plate  14  off the conveyor system  26 . That is, the sweep-arm discard device  62  automatically discards all battery plates  14  that are flagged as defective by physically sweeping, pushing or knocking the defective battery plates  14  off the conveyor system  26 . A discard bin (not shown) can be positioned beneath the conveyor system  26  such that as the defective battery plates  14  are swept off of the conveyor section  26 A, the defective battery plates  14  fall into the discard bin. 
         [0037]    In still other various embodiments, the discard device  62  can be a forced air device configured to discharge a pulse or puff of air, or other suitable gaseous substance, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The forced air device is positioned below the conveyor system  26  and oriented to discharge the puff of air through a gap  74 , i.e., a space or opening, between two adjacent conveyor sections  26 A. If the integrity of the first and/or second surface of a battery plate  14  is determined to be flawed or undesirable, the processing center  42  activates the forced air discard device  62 . Activation of the forced air discard device  62  causes the forced air discard device to discharge the puff of air directed at the defective battery plate  14 , e.g., an edge portion of the defective battery plate  14 , as the defective battery plate  14  passes over the gap  74 . The forced air discard device is calibrated to discharge the puff air with sufficient force to effectively flip or knock the defective battery plate  14  off of the conveyor system  26 . That is, the forced air discard device  62  automatically discards all defective battery plates  14  by effective blowing them off the conveyor system  26  using a puff of forced or air. A discard bin (not shown) can be positioned beneath the conveyor system  26  such that as the defective battery plates  14  are blown off of the conveyor section  26 A, the defective battery plates  14  fall into the discard bin. 
         [0038]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 , although the scanner  38  is illustrated as being positioned above the conveyor system  26  such that the first surface is effectively the top surface of each battery plate  14 , it should be understood that in various embodiments, the scanner  38  is positioned below the conveyor system  26 . In such instances, the conveyor system  26  includes the conveyor sections  26 A and the gap  58 , as described above with reference to  FIG. 3 . Accordingly, the first surface would effectively be the bottom surface, which would be scanned, as described above, by the scanner  38  positioned below the conveyor system  26 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , in various embodiments, the ABPQIS  10  can include a single scanner  78  configured to substantially simultaneously scan the first and the second surfaces. In various implementations, the scanner  78  can be a laser scanner that utilizes a beam splitter (not shown) to split a very narrow beam of light emitted from the laser scanner  78 . The beam splitter can be either internal to the scanner  78  or external to the scanner  78 . The beam splitter splits the light beam emitted by the laser scanner  78  into a first portion  82 A and a second portion  82 B. The first light portion  82 A is reflected off of a first reflector  86 , e.g., mirror, such that a very narrow light beam scans back and forth across the first surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the first portion  82 A of the emitted beam is reflected off of the first surface back to the first reflector  86  and then to the laser scanner  78  where the laser scanner  78  reads, or captures, the reflected signals. 
         [0040]    Similarly, the second light portion  82 B is reflected off of a second reflector  90 , e.g., mirror, such that a very narrow light beam scans back and forth across the second surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the second portion  82 B of the emitted beam is reflected off of the second surface back to the second reflector  90  and then to the laser scanner  78  where the laser scanner  78  reads, or captures, the reflected signals. Bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  of the first and second surfaces will diffuse the first and/or second portions  82 A and/or  82 B of the light beam emitted by laser scanner  78  in different directions such that the intensity of the reflected signals are altered. The laser scanner  78  converts the reflected signals into one or more digital signals that include the first surface and second surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the first and/or second surface, and transmits the signal(s) to the processing center  42 . 
         [0041]    Alternatively, fiber optic cables can be utilized to transmit the signal portions  82 A and  82 B to the first and second surfaces and receive the respective reflected signals from the first and second surfaces. Accordingly, in such embodiments, the first and second reflectors  86  and  90  would be unnecessary. As described above, the laser scanner  78  would then convert the reflected signals into one or more digital signals that include the first surface and second surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the first and/or second surface, and transmit the signal(s) to the processing center  42 . 
         [0042]    With further reference to  FIG. 7 , in other various implementations, the scanner  78  can be a video device that utilizes a light splitter (not shown), e.g., one or more lenses or mirrors, to split an optical field of view of the video device  78 . The light splitter can be either internal to the scanner  78  or external to the scanner  78 . The light splitter splits the optical field of the video scanner  78  into a first portion  82 A and a second portion  82 B. The first light portion  82 A is reflected off of a first reflector  86 , e.g., mirror, such that the video device  78  generates images of the first surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the battery plates  14  pass through a first viewing field of the video device  78  where images of the battery plates  14  and any bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  are captured. The video device  78  converts the captured images into a digital signal that includes the first surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the first surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0043]    Similarly, the second light portion  82 B is reflected off of a second reflector  90 , e.g., mirror, such that the video device  78  generates images of the second surface of each battery plate  14  as the battery plates  14  travel along the conveyor system  26 . Generally, the battery plates  14  pass through a second viewing field of the video device  78  where images of the battery plates  14  and any bumps, bubbles, voids, cracks, etc., in the paste and/or the lead grid  18  are captured. The video device  78  converts the captured images into a digital signal that includes the second surface data, indicative of the quantity and severity of any anomalies in the second surface, and transmits the signal to the processing center  42 . 
         [0044]    Therefore, as described above, the processing center  42  receives first surface data and/or second surface data from the single scanner  78 . Once the processing center  42  receives the first and/or second surface data, the processing center  42  analyzes the first and/or second surface data to determine the integrity of the first and/or second surface as described above. 
         [0045]    The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is described are intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.