Illumination – Photographic lighting – Including specific light modifier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-27
2001-07-24
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Photographic lighting
Including specific light modifier
C362S033000, C362S341000, C362S346000, C362S296040, C362S138000, C362S139000, C362S269000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264342
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to an illuminating device, in particular for use in quality inspection procedures, having at least one light source, at least one deflecting reflector and at least one reflecting surface.
Illuminating devices of the generic type are known per se. In the case of industrial production processes, quality inspection procedures which also include visual quality inspection are carried out in the region of the production lines. It is known that informative visual quality inspection is a function of the illumination of the monitored regions and of the monitored products. For this purpose, illuminating devices are assembled in which the light of a light source is deflected by deflecting, reflectors to irradiate a reflecting surface remote from the light source. So-called light sails, which are assembled from a multiplicity of reflecting vanes, are preferably used as reflecting surface. The light is reflected from the light sail in the desired way onto the region to be monitored.
In order to ensure optimum illuminating conditions, the light source, the deflecting reflectors and the reflecting surface must be optimally aligned relative to one another, and the deflecting reflectors and, in particular, the reflecting surface must be accurately adjusted. Such installations are very complicated and are arranged as fixed installations in the region of the production lines.
A disadvantage of this previously known device consists in that the installation of the components must be planned with very great care. Even small errors in the preliminary installation, of the holding devices for example, can lead to illuminating conditions which are useless. Owing to the fixed installation, the previously known illuminating device is very complicated and cost intensive, both with regard to the parts used and regard to assembly. Finally, the previously known illuminating device is vulnerable, since, in particular, the light source and the associated deflecting reflectors are arranged in the production or operating region and can easily be inadvertently displaced. The lighting conditions can be unfavourably influenced because of the spacing of the illuminating device from the light sail. Since, however, it is important for the desired visual quality inspection that the beam path of the light is exactly defined, that is to say that the mixture of light, parallelism and the like are neatly determined, such disturbances can affect the entire production.
The further problem is that known illuminating devices are used in that and the operator is searching on the illuminating device, is awaiting a certain period to adapt his eyes to the illumination situation and than checking or inspecting surfaces which are moved relative to the illuminating device under the given illumination conditions. There is no possibility to check or inspect surfaces under changing illuminating conditions frequently.
A further problem is that the given illuminating conditions can not be adjusted due to colours of the surfaces to be inspected. Furthermore known systems do not provide any assistance using digital devices or inspection and/or documentation, purposes.
It is the object of the invention, starting from this point, to improve an illuminating device of the generic type to the effect that such a device can be produced and/or installed with a low economic outlay, can be adjusted easily, is variable with regard to the place of use, and is dependable overall.
To achieve this object technically, the illuminating device of the generic type is improved by virtue of the fact that the at least one light source, the at least one deflecting reflector and (lacuna) at least one reflecting surface are connected to one another to form an assembly to be positioned in an appropriate position relative to surface to be illuminated, and control means for switching and dimming said at least one light source are provided including at least one dimmer switch to be positioned near an operator position independently from said assembly.
The illuminating device according to the invention makes it possible for the light source, the deflecting reflector and the reflecting surface to be aligned relative to one another in a basic setting, in order to be arranged subsequently as a standardized assembly relative to the region to be monitored. This greatly simplifies the adjustment of the illuminating device, and thus the use of such devices becomes more economic. Furthermore, all the components of the device can be arranged in a dependable region relative to the region to be monitored. Independent from said standardized assembly a dimmer switch blowing to the controlling for dimming said light source can be positioned near by an operator position. The operator can therefore easily change the illumination conditions. The dimmer switch can provide a multilevel-dimmer. For example a six-level dimmer switch can include the level on =100%, level 1=95%, level 2=70% level 3=50%, level 4=35% and off. Variations are within the spectrum of the invention. The operator can therefore evaluate the reaction of the illumination condition with regard to the surface to be inspected.
The light source is advantageously a luminaire having a housing with an essentially rectangular frontage. In accordance with an advantageous proposal of the invention, the deflecting reflector is arranged on the light source housing in the region of the front surface. The deflecting reflector can then have the form required for the application, with the result that the desired illumination can be achieved. If, as further proposed in an advantageous way, the reflecting surface is arranged inside the deflecting reflector, the entire illuminating device is unipartite in nature, the luminaire housing being enlarged by the deflecting reflector, and the required reflecting surface being arranged in the deflecting reflector. The light source can expediently be provided with at least one filter, which is arranged in the beam path. The quality, the radiation area and, if appropriate also the polarization of the light can be prescribed by the appropriate filters.
This essentially unipartite design can easily be arranged in the region of a ceiling of al laboratory or of a production area. All that is then required is for the reflectors to be adjusted relative to one another in such a way that the desired illumination is obtained in the region envisaged therefore. In an advantageous way, the reflector surface is a light sail, which advantageously comprises individual reflector vanes. It is therefore advantageously possible for the entire light sail to be adjustable or, in addition or alternatively, also for individual reflector vanes to be adjusted.
It is advantageously proposed that an adjustable dim-out flap is arranged in the deflecting reflector opposite the light sail. In this way, the beam path of the light can be bounded and set.
In order to improve the adjustability and the variable use of the illuminating device according to the invention, it is proposed that the unit of light source, deflecting reflector and reflecting surface be arranged on a supporting structure. Such a supporting structure can be provided with fastening devices in order to ensure simple fastening in the monitoring region. The switchgear cabinet required for illumination operation and in which a dimmer device is advantageously accommodated is advantageously arranged on the supporting structure.
The number of the light sources, the deflecting reflectors and the reflecting surfaces is determined by the required range of use. Because of the integrated design, the illuminating device according to the invention can be produced and adjusted cost effectively with few components. Moreover, the device can be used in a most variable fashion and is only slightly vulnerable.
According to a further aspect of the invention interfering lamps and/or colour filters can be included into the system. The interfering lamps can be chosen to interfere the illumination of the device to strengthen or
Alavi Ali
Cantor & Colburn LLP
O'Shea Sandra
VH Lichttechnische Spezialgerate GmbH
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