US3586165A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dud detector
Assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-10
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1989-01-10
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for determining the condition of a top panel of a container or of a closure lid on a vacuum-packed container which indicates the vacuum or pressure condition within the container. The apparatus comprises a sensing head mounted at a detecting station for vertical reciprocation when a container is in proper position at the station which comprises a tubular housing resiliently supported in a horizontal position and enclosing a switch having an actuator intermediate the ends of the housing. The switch actuator is adapted to be operated when the housing is lowered into contact with oppositely disposed rim portions of the top panel or closure lid if the center of the panel is convex or raised, as a result of a loss of vacuum within the container. The switch controls an ejector device for removing from the detecting station a container having its top panel convex due to loss of vacuum.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry J Keinanen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:14
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67B; B67B3/00; B67B3/26; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/3404
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
Means for sensing contour variation of closure members on sealed containers as they are advanced along a path, one by one, past a detecting station and for ejecting certain of said containers from said path, which means comprises a sensing head, a resilient support at said detecting station for mounting said sensing head for reciprocation in a vertical path, said sensing head having a housing in the form of a relatively short section of tubing disposed with the longitudinal axis thereof extending crosswise above the path of said containers so that lowering said head will engage end portions of said housing with oppositely disposed top marginal portions of a container top wall when the container is at said detecting station and the top wall is in acceptable condition with the center portion thereof concave, means responsive to positioning of a container at said detecting station for lowering said housing so as to momentarily engage said housing with said container top wall, and a switch-actuating member extending from the bottom of the housing intermediate the end portions thereof which is operated upon engaging with the center portion of the top wall of a container positioned at said station when said center portion is raised a predetermined amount so that it is not in acceptable condition, means at said detecting station for ejecting containers which are not in acceptable condition and electrical control means for said ejecting means which is operative in response to operation of said switch-actuating member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
Means for sensing contour variation of closure members on sealed containers as they are advanced along a path, one by one, past a detecting station and for ejecting certain of said containers from said path, which means comprises a sensing head, a resilient support at said detecting station for mounting said sensing head for reciprocation in a vertical path, said sensing head having a housing in the form of a relatively short section of tubing disposed with the longitudinal axis thereof extending crosswise above the path of said containers so that lowering said head will engage end portions of said housing with oppositely disposed top marginal portions of a container top wall when the container is at said detecting station and the top wall is in acceptable condition with the center portion thereof concave, means responsive to positioning of a container at said detecting station for lowering said housing so as to momentarily engage said housing with said container top wall, and a switch-actuating member extending from the bottom of the housing intermediate the end portions thereof which is operated upon engaging with the center portion of the top wall of a container positioned at said station when said center portion is raised a predetermined amount so that it is not in acceptable condition, means at said detecting station for ejecting containers which are not in acceptable condition and electrical control means for said ejecting means which is operative in response to operation of said switch-actuating member.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
236 words
A device for sensing contour variation of closure members on sealed containers as they are advanced along a path, one by one, past a detecting station which comprises a sensing head, a support on which said head is mounted for reciprocation in a vertical path at said detecting station, said sensing head including a housing in the form of a relatively short section of tubing disposed with the axis thereof extending crosswise above the path of said containers so that lowering said head will engage axially spaced end portions of said housing with oppositely disposed top marginal portions of a container top wall when a container is at said detecting station with the top wall having a center portion thereof concave, electrical impulse means operative to lower said head into momentary engagement with the top of a container at said detecting station, container-sensing means at said detecting station for actuating said electrical impulse means when a container is positioned at said station, switch elements enclosed in said tubular housing and a switch-actuating member extending from the bottom of said tubular housing intermediate the container-engaging end portions thereof which is inoperative when the housing is engaged with a container having a top wall with a center portion thereof concave and which is operated upon engaging with the center portion of the top wall of a container in which said center portion is raised to a convex position.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
236 words
A device for sensing contour variation of closure members on sealed containers as they are advanced along a path, one by one, past a detecting station which comprises a sensing head, a support on which said head is mounted for reciprocation in a vertical path at said detecting station, said sensing head including a housing in the form of a relatively short section of tubing disposed with the axis thereof extending crosswise above the path of said containers so that lowering said head will engage axially spaced end portions of said housing with oppositely disposed top marginal portions of a container top wall when a container is at said detecting station with the top wall having a center portion thereof concave, electrical impulse means operative to lower said head into momentary engagement with the top of a container at said detecting station, container-sensing means at said detecting station for actuating said electrical impulse means when a container is positioned at said station, switch elements enclosed in said tubular housing and a switch-actuating member extending from the bottom of said tubular housing intermediate the container-engaging end portions thereof which is inoperative when the housing is engaged with a container having a top wall with a center portion thereof concave and which is operated upon engaging with the center portion of the top wall of a container in which said center portion is raised to a convex position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and said head being mounted in depending relation on a resilient member which permits said head to be lowered into contact with variable height containers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
170 words
In an apparatus for detecting defective vacuum-packed containers of the flip-panel-type in which loss of vacuum within the container is indicated by a raised panel portion in the top wall of the container, a detecting head comprising a length of tubing having a switch mounted therein with an actuator mounted in the bottom wall intermediate the ends of the tubing, a support means for mounting said tubing with the long axis thereof extending crosswise above the path of advance of a line of containers which support means includes resilient means normally holding said head above the path of the containers, and means cooperating with said support means for reciprocating said tubing in a vertical path so as to bring opposite end portions of said tubing down into momentary engagement with oppositely disposed portions of the top of successive containers thereby positioning said switch actuator for operation by an indicator panel portion where the latter is in raised position due to improper sealing and resultant loss of vacuum in the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
170 words
In an apparatus for detecting defective vacuum-packed containers of the flip-panel-type in which loss of vacuum within the container is indicated by a raised panel portion in the top wall of the container, a detecting head comprising a length of tubing having a switch mounted therein with an actuator mounted in the bottom wall intermediate the ends of the tubing, a support means for mounting said tubing with the long axis thereof extending crosswise above the path of advance of a line of containers which support means includes resilient means normally holding said head above the path of the containers, and means cooperating with said support means for reciprocating said tubing in a vertical path so as to bring opposite end portions of said tubing down into momentary engagement with oppositely disposed portions of the top of successive containers thereby positioning said switch actuator for operation by an indicator panel portion where the latter is in raised position due to improper sealing and resultant loss of vacuum in the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and said length of tubing being formed of a substantially rigid plastic having nonconducting electrical characteristics.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and means at said station for detecting the presence of a container, and electrical impulse means for reciprocating said tubing which is responsive to operation of said means for detecting the presence of a container at said detecting station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support meaNs comprises vertically spaced leaf spring members extending laterally of the path of vertical reciprocation of said head and said means for reciprocating said tubing comprises electrical impulse means actuated in response to positioning a container at said detection station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
188 words
In an apparatus for detecting defective vacuum-packed containers of the flip-panel-type in which loss of vacuum within the container is indicated by a raised panel portion in the top wall of the container, a detecting head comprising a length of tubing having a switch mounted therein with an actuator mounted in the bottom wall intermediate the ends of the tubing, a support for mounting said tubing with the long axis thereof extending crosswise above the path of advance of a line of containers, means for reciprocating said tubing in a vertical path so as to bring opposite end portions down into engagement with oppositely disposed portions of the top of successive containers thereby positioning said switch actuator for operation by an indicator panel portion where the latter is in raised position due to improper sealing and resultant loss of vacuum in the container, said support for mounting said length of tubing including a relatively stiff resilient wirelike member which depends from said means for reciprocating said tubing and said means for reciprocating said tubing being operable to accommodate within predetermined limits variations in the height of the containers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
188 words
In an apparatus for detecting defective vacuum-packed containers of the flip-panel-type in which loss of vacuum within the container is indicated by a raised panel portion in the top wall of the container, a detecting head comprising a length of tubing having a switch mounted therein with an actuator mounted in the bottom wall intermediate the ends of the tubing, a support for mounting said tubing with the long axis thereof extending crosswise above the path of advance of a line of containers, means for reciprocating said tubing in a vertical path so as to bring opposite end portions down into engagement with oppositely disposed portions of the top of successive containers thereby positioning said switch actuator for operation by an indicator panel portion where the latter is in raised position due to improper sealing and resultant loss of vacuum in the container, said support for mounting said length of tubing including a relatively stiff resilient wirelike member which depends from said means for reciprocating said tubing and said means for reciprocating said tubing being operable to accommodate within predetermined limits variations in the height of the containers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |