1. A modular free space optical (FSO) communications device comprising:
an optical relay (OR) module comprising an OR housing and at least one OR device carried thereby;
a base module comprising a base housing and at least one positioner carried thereby for providing relative movement between said base module and said OR module for optical beam aiming;
a camera;
a remote station interface connected to said at least one positioner for permitting remote optical beam aiming, said remote station also connected to said camera for permitting remote viewing; and
at least one camera positioner for permitting remote control of said camera.
2. The modular FSO communications device of claim 1 wherein said remote station interface comprises an optical fiber interface.
3. The modular FSO communications device of claim 1 wherein said remote station interface comprises an Internet remote station interface.
4. The modular FSO communications device of claim 1 wherein said base module further comprises a controller connected between said remote station interface and said at least one positioner.
5. The modular FSO communications device of claim 1wherein said at least one OR device comprises a fixed telescopic lens device.
6. The modular FSO communications device of claim 5 wherein said OR housing has an aperture therein; and further comprising a steering mirror in the optical path between the aperture and said fixed telescopic lens device.
7. The modular FSO communications device of claim 1 further comprising an adaptive optics module connected between said base module and said OR module.
8. A modular free space optical (FSO) communications device comprising:
an optical relay (OR) module comprising an OR housing and at least one OR device carried thereby;
a base module comprising a base housing and at least one positioner carried thereby for providing relative movement between said base module and said OR module for optical beam aiming;
a camera;
a remote station interface connected to said camera for permitting remote viewing; and
at least one camera positioner for permitting remote control of said camera.
9. The modular FSO communications device of claim 8 wherein said remote station interface comprises an optical fiber interface.
10. The modular FSO communications device of claim 8 wherein said remote station interface comprises an Internet remote station interface.
11. The modular FSO communications device of claim 8 wherein said base module further comprises a controller connected between said remote station interface and said at least one positioner.
12. The modular FSO communications device of claim 8 wherein said at least one OR device comprises a fixed telescopic lens device.
13. The modular FSO communications device of claim 12 wherein said OR housing has an aperture therein; and further comprising a steering mirror in the optical path between the aperture and said fixed telescopic lens device.
14. The modular FSO communications device of claim 8 further comprising an adaptive optics module connected between said base module and said OR module.
15. A free space optical (FSO) communications system comprising:
first and second modular FSO communications devices aligned for optical communication therebetween, each comprising
an optical relay (OR) module comprising an OR housing and at least one OR device carried thereby,
a base module comprising a base housing and at least one positioner carried thereby for providing relative movement between said base module and said OR module for optical beam aiming,
a camera,
a remote station interface connected to said at least one positioner for permitting remote optical beam aiming, said remote station also connected to said camera for permitting remote viewing; and
at least one camera positioner for permitting remote control of said camera.
16. The FSO communications system of claim 15 further comprising a remote terminal connected to said remote station interfaces of said first and second modular FSO devices.
17. The FSO communications system of claim 15 wherein said remote station interface comprises an optical fiber interface.
18. The FSO communications system of claim 15 wherein said remote station interface comprises an Internet remote station interface.
19. The FSO communications system of claim 15 wherein said base module further comprises a controller connected between said remote station interface and said at least one positioner.
20. The FSO communications system of claim 15 wherein said at least one OR device comprises a fixed telescopic lens device.
21. The FSO communications system of claim 20 wherein said OR housing has an aperture therein; and wherein each of said first and second modular FSO communications devices further comprises a steering mirror in the optical path between the aperture and said fixed telescopic lens device.
22. The FSO communications system of claim 15 wherein each of said first and second modular FSO communications devices further comprises an adaptive optics module connected between said base module and said OR module.
23. A free space optical (FSO) communications system comprising:
first and second modular FSO communications devices aligned for optical communication therebetween, each comprising
an optical relay (OR) module comprising an OR housing and at least one OR device carried thereby,
a base module comprising a base housing and at least one positioner carried thereby for providing relative movement between said base module and said OR module for optical beam aiming,
a camera,
a remote station interface connected to said camera for permitting remote viewing; and
at least one camera positioner for permitting remote control of said camera.
24. The FSO communications system of claim 23 further comprising a remote terminal connected to said remote station interfaces of said first and second modular FSO devices.
25. The FSO communications system of claim 23 wherein said remote station interface comprises an optical fiber interface.
26. The FSO communications system of claim 23 wherein said remote station interface comprises an Internet remote station interface.
27. The FSO communications system of claim 23 wherein said base module further comprises a controller connected between said remote station interface and said at least one positioner.
28. The FSO communications system of claim 23 wherein said at least one OR device comprises a fixed telescopic lens device.
29. The FSO communications system of claim 28 wherein said OR housing has an aperture therein; and wherein each of said first and second modular FSO communications devices further comprises a steering mirror in the optical path between the aperture and said fixed telescopic lens device.
30. The FSO communications system of claim 23 wherein each of said first and second modular FSO communications devices further comprises an adaptive optics module connected between said base module and said OR module.
31. A free space optical communications method comprising:
providing a modular free space optical (FSO) communications device comprising an optical relay (OR) module comprising an OR housing and at least one OR device carried thereby, a base module comprising a base housing and at least one positioner carried thereby for providing relative movement between the base module and the OR module for optical beam aiming, end a camera connected to the remote station interface, and at least one camera positioner; and
interfacing the camera and at least one camera positioner with a remote station for permitting remote viewing and remote control of the camera.
32. The method of claim 31 further comprising interfacing the at least one positioner with the remote station for permitting remote optical beam aiming.
33. The method of claim 31 wherein interfacing comprises interfacing using an optical fiber interface.
34. The method of claim 31 wherein interfacing comprises interfacing via the Internet.
35. The method of claim 31 wherein the at least one OR device comprises a fixed telescopic lens device.
36. The method of claim 31 wherein the modular FSO communications device further comprises an adaptive optics module connected between the base module and the OR module.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A defect detection device adapted to receive bags manufactured by a bag packaging machine and convey the bags to a downstream side through a conveyance path while checking for defects of the bags, the defect detection device comprising:
a first transfer unit that is arranged below the bag packaging machine and adapted to receive the bags that are discharged from the bag packaging machine and convey the bags to a downstream side;
a second transfer unit that is arranged on the downstream side of the first transfer unit;
a detector that is arranged adjacent to a downstream end of the first transfer unit and configured to send a detection signal when the detector detects an object that is conveyed by the first transfer unit; and
a controller that is operatively connected to the first transfer unit, the detector, and the second transfer unit, and stores therein a size of a proper bag that is being manufactured, the controller being configured to find a defective bag based on the size of the proper bag, a conveying speed of the first transfer unit, duration of the detection signal from the detector, and a conveying speed of the second transfer unit,
the first transfer unit being pivotably supported by the second transfer unit.
2. The defect detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the detector is arranged so as to be partially below and partially above a conveyance surface of the first transfer unit.
3. The defect detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the downstream end of the first transfer unit is arranged so as to be above an upstream end of the second transfer unit.
4. The defect detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the detector is a line sensor that has a plurality of projectors and a plurality of photoreceivers that are arranged such that the object conveyed by the first transfer unit passes between the plurality of projectors and the plurality of photoreceivers.
5. The defect detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the first transfer unit has a conveying belt that conveys the object and a motor that rotates the conveying belt.
6. The defect detection device according to claim 1, further comprising
a remover that is adapted to remove the object from the conveyance path when the controller finds a defective bag.
7. The defect detection device according to claim 6, wherein
the remover is adapted to remove the object from the conveyance path by blowing air onto the object.
8. The defect detection device according to claim 6, further comprising
a second transfer unit that is arranged on the downstream side of the first transfer unit,
wherein the remover is adapted to remove the object from the conveyance path while the object is being conveyed by the second transfer unit.
9. The defect detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the first transfer unit is supported to the second transfer unit so as to be pivotable around the downstream end of the first transfer unit.
10. The defect detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the controller is configured to calculate a proper detection time range based on the size of the proper bag and the conveying speed of the first transfer unit, and
the controller is configured to find a defective bag when the duration of the detection signal is either longer or shorter than the proper detection time range.
11. The defect detection device according to claim 1, wherein
the controller is configured to calculate a proper interval time period based on the size of the proper bag and the conveying speed of the first transfer unit, and
the controller is configured to find a defective bag when an interval between the detection signals is shorter than the proper interval time period.
12. A bag packaging system comprising:
a bag packaging machine that manufactures bags by sealing a sheet-like package paper and forming bags with contents contained therein; and
the defect detection device according to claim 1 that is designed to receive bags manufactured by the bag packaging machine and convey the bags to a downstream side through a conveyance path while checking for defects of the bags.