INTERIOR LIGHTING 10-103

silhouette vision the illumination on the cloth from the observer side times
the reflectance of the cloth should be not more than one-tenth the bright-
ness transmitted by the cloth.
Light transmitted through translucent materials such as glass, paper,
plastics, and liquids also may reveal certain kinds of faults, foreign material,
and defects. Large luminous panels can be built in conveyor lines over
which, or past which, the material flows. The illumination level required
varies with the task. A panel brightness of the order of 100 footlamberts
often is adequate. Bubbles, blisters, cracks, chips, and whorls may be
revealed as highlights or distortions caused by refraction when transparent
materials such as glass jars, bottles, bulbs, clear plastics, etc., are seen
moving before a large-area, low-brightness panel. Alternate dark and
luminous backgrounds or black strips laid on a luminous background aid
in locating and identifying defects.
To detect small fire cracks and bubbles in glass jars and the pin-point
bubbles caused by foreign material in carbonated beverages, a narrow beam
source is recommended. The mirror action of these defects reveals their
presence.
A modification is the arrangement employed for the inspection of inner
tubes for air leaks. The partially inflated tube suspended from an over-
head conveyor is passed through a trough filled with water under the sur-
face of which there are light sources on each side of the inspector's stand.
Any air bubbles coming from the tube are made visible by the light they
refbct.
Polarized illumination. The detection of internal strains in glass,
mounted lenses, lamp bulbs, radio tubes, transparent plastics, etc., may
be facilitated by transmitted polarized light. The nonuniform spectral
transmittance of strained areas causes the formation of color fringes that
are visible to an inspector. With transparent models of structures and
machine parts, it is possible to analyze strains under operating conditions.
Nonspecular materials. Surface flaws, irregularities in surface shape, pit
marks, scratches, and cracks in nonspecular or mat materials are most
easily seen by lighting which strikes the surface obliquely in such a manner
that nonuniform surface contours cast shadows. Wrinkles in roofing
materials are revealed by small shadows which the wrinkles cast when the
sheet is illuminated by a narrow light beam incident at a grazing angle.
Directional light also has been found useful for the inspection of sand-
paper and Venetian blinds. (See Fig. 14-6.) The light may be specular
for inspecting mat surfaces, but should be diffused at the source for ex-
amining polished or shiny materials.
Minute details and high precision. Careful inspection of very small
objects may be greatly simplified by viewing their magnified images. For
production work the magnified image may be projected on a screen. Be-
cause the projected silhouette is many times the actual size of the object,
any irregular shapes or improper spacings can be detected readily. Similar
devices are employed for the inspection of machine parts where accurate
dimensions and contours are essential. One typical device now in common
use projects an enlarged silhouette of the teeth of a gear on a profile chart.