Cleaning apparatus for light tube in an optical inspection system
US5402264A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/8806
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical inspection system (10) has an inspection region (20) through which articles (12) pass and are illuminated by illumination (22) provided by an illumination source (30). The source is shielded from the inspection region by a protective shield or tube (32) transmissive of the illumination. A cleaning element (42), such as a plastic string, contacts a major surface (45) of the tube and dislodges contaminants (63) from the major surface as the tube rotates. The cleaning element has an active portion (60) held in contact with the major surface by tension in the cleaning element applied at tension locations (56, 58). The cleaning element describes part of a spiral or helix; it preferably occupies less than about 360 degrees, more preferably between about 30 and about 270 degrees, and still more preferably about 120 to about 240 degrees, of arc measured about the axis of the tube. The cleaning element flexes significantly under compression but remains taut under tension; it may be a monofilament or of woven construction; it has a maximum cross-sectional dimension D.sub.c that is much less than the maximum cross-sectional dimension D.sub.T of the tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.