Importance

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Abstract

A series of wire processing machines strip insulation from wire segment ends and attach electric terminals to the ends. A quality control device inspects each stripped end and sends signals which prevent the terminal attachment machine from operating upon the defective stripped end. The quality control device comprises an illuminated field at which the stripped end momentarily stops, an optical lens opposite the illuminated field for providing an optical image of the stripped end, and a converter for converting the optical image to an electronic image signal. Solid state electronic circuits compare the image signal to a reference signal, provide an error signal if the stripped end is defective and store the error signal in a memory circuit. The error signal, if present, is recalled from the memory at the appropriate time and converted to an output signal which prevents the downstream terminal attachment machine from operating on the defective wire end. The quality control device also feeds the electronic image signal to a video display monitor so the operator can see a visual display of each wire end. The reference signal (defining defect parameters) is programmed into the device by a human operator by means of a 'learn mode' whereby, if a sample stripped end with correct tolerance is viewed by the quality control device, the human operator issues a 'learn' command, which causes the quality control device to 'memorize' the correct image and use it as the reference signal for subsequent wire ends.

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First Claim