US3629595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transparent container inspection apparatus
Assignee: INEX Inc A DE CORP
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Filing: 1970-03-11
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1990-03-11
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus which will inspect containers for defects such as spikes, birdswings, and undesired flaws in the walls which render containers commercially objectionable. The apparatus operates to move containers in series and spaced relation through an inspection station where a background lighting is established to illuminate an area of each container larger than the field to be inspected. Opposite the source of light is an image-forming surface or mirror which directs the illuminated container image to an inspection unit which rotates the image to evaluate the overall evenness or uniform background lighting effect and photocells react to dark spots or areas usually caused by spikes, birdswings and flaws which upset the uniformity of the light in the area of the container being inspected. When a dark spot of the smallest detectable size, or a foreign body capable of changing or effecting the illumination is detected by the photocells, the container in which the change or effect occurs is rejected.
Inventors
- 👤 Momir Babunovic
- 👤 Virgil Melvin Stapf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for inspecting containers for flaws comprisIng: conveyor means to move the containers in upright positions horizontally through an inspection zone; a source of illumination at one side of the inspection zone, said illumination source back lighting the container in the area to be inspected; a plurality of photocells arranged in a common plane having a predetermined flaw viewing area and being fixed relative to the container moved through the inspection zone; and container lighted area projection means between said photocells and the side of the container opposite to said back-lighting source of illumination, said projection means including a rotary prism effective to rotate the container lighted area image before said photocells, and mirror means positioned between said prism and the side of the container opposite to said back-lighting source of illumination, said mirror projecting the lighted image of the container into said prism, said mirror means altering the size and shape of the lighted image of the container to substantially match the predetermined flaw viewing area of said photocells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for inspecting containers for flaws comprisIng: conveyor means to move the containers in upright positions horizontally through an inspection zone; a source of illumination at one side of the inspection zone, said illumination source back lighting the container in the area to be inspected; a plurality of photocells arranged in a common plane having a predetermined flaw viewing area and being fixed relative to the container moved through the inspection zone; and container lighted area projection means between said photocells and the side of the container opposite to said back-lighting source of illumination, said projection means including a rotary prism effective to rotate the container lighted area image before said photocells, and mirror means positioned between said prism and the side of the container opposite to said back-lighting source of illumination, said mirror projecting the lighted image of the container into said prism, said mirror means altering the size and shape of the lighted image of the container to substantially match the predetermined flaw viewing area of said photocells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said mirror means to scan the reproduced lighted image of the containers is a flat mirror assuming a predetermined angle to the direction of the light source so as to reflect the lighted image of the containers into said rotating prism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus for inspecting containers for flaws as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mirror means is a cylindrically convex mirror whereby the X- and Y-axes of the container image are caused to be unequal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus for inspecting container for flaws as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mirror means is a cylindrically concave mirror having its axis in the plane of and at an acute angle to the vertical Y-axis of the container field of view, whereby the X- and Y-axes of the container are caused to be unequal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
190 words
Apparatus for inspecting containers for flaws comprising: means to move containers in upright attitude and horizontally along a predetermined path; container image viewing means defining a container inspection station for said container-moving means; a source of light adjacent one side of said inspection station to illuminate the containers from one side thereof and create a lighted image; said image viewing means being at the side of said container-moving means opposite said light source for reproducing the container image in a predetermined configuration inclusive of the area of a container to be inspected for flaws; and container image inspection means to receive and scan the reproduced container image for flaws, said inspection means including light-responsive means presenting a substantially fixed area to the lighted image of the container, container image projection means between said image viewing means and said light-responsive means effective to size the container image to fit within the fixed area of said light-responsive means, said projection means including a rotary prism for rotating the container lighted image; and means to reject a flawed container operatively responsive to changes in the level of illumination detected by said light-responsive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
190 words
Apparatus for inspecting containers for flaws comprising: means to move containers in upright attitude and horizontally along a predetermined path; container image viewing means defining a container inspection station for said container-moving means; a source of light adjacent one side of said inspection station to illuminate the containers from one side thereof and create a lighted image; said image viewing means being at the side of said container-moving means opposite said light source for reproducing the container image in a predetermined configuration inclusive of the area of a container to be inspected for flaws; and container image inspection means to receive and scan the reproduced container image for flaws, said inspection means including light-responsive means presenting a substantially fixed area to the lighted image of the container, container image projection means between said image viewing means and said light-responsive means effective to size the container image to fit within the fixed area of said light-responsive means, said projection means including a rotary prism for rotating the container lighted image; and means to reject a flawed container operatively responsive to changes in the level of illumination detected by said light-responsive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus for inspecting containers for flaws as set forth in claim 5, wherein said image-viewing means reproduces the container image in a configuration in which the X- and Y-axes are substantially the same and said image projection means fits said circular container image within the fixed area of said light-responsive means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for inspecting containers for flaws as set forth in claim 5, wherein said image viewing means reproduces the container image in a configuration in which the vertical axis is unequal to the horizontal axis, and said image projection means converts the image configuration into a circular configuration to fit within the area of said light responsive means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus for inspecting containers for flaws as set forth in claim 5 wherein said image-viewing means reproduces the container image with a cOnfiguration in which the Y-axis is greater than the X-axis, and said image projection means fits the configuration of the the container image within the fixed area of said light-responsive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
In apparatus for inspecting flat sided flask-type containers for flaws: means to support a container with its widthwise axis generally horizontal and its lengthwise axis generally vertical; means to illuminate the entire container from one flat side and cast an image thereof: mirror means adjacent the opposite side to reproduce a selected portion of the flat side of the container image with predetermined widthwise and lengthwise axes; light sensitive means having an effective area with constant widthwise and lengthwise axes; and image projection means between said light sensitive means and said container image-reproducing mirror means to conform the widthwise and lengthwise axes of the selected container image to said constant widthwise and lengthwise axes for said light-sensitive means, said image projection means including a rotating Dove prism to rotate the container image relative to said light-sensitive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
In apparatus for inspecting flat sided flask-type containers for flaws: means to support a container with its widthwise axis generally horizontal and its lengthwise axis generally vertical; means to illuminate the entire container from one flat side and cast an image thereof: mirror means adjacent the opposite side to reproduce a selected portion of the flat side of the container image with predetermined widthwise and lengthwise axes; light sensitive means having an effective area with constant widthwise and lengthwise axes; and image projection means between said light sensitive means and said container image-reproducing mirror means to conform the widthwise and lengthwise axes of the selected container image to said constant widthwise and lengthwise axes for said light-sensitive means, said image projection means including a rotating Dove prism to rotate the container image relative to said light-sensitive means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means to reproduce a selected portion of the container image causes the widthwise and lengthwise axes to be equal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means to produce a selected portion of the container image causes said widthwise and lengthwise axes to be unequal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said means to reproduce a selected portion of the container image causes said lengthwise axis to be greater than said widthwise axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |