US3684089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container wall thickness detection
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-21
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Granted: 1972-08-15
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Expires: 1990-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for detecting variations in the thickness of an article, such as a container, of glass or like dielectric material. The container is moved into contact with a sensing means including a plurality of electrodes, each preferably comprising a strip of spring metal. The electrodes each are in rubbing contact with the container outer surface and flexed slightly to conform to a portion of the container wall surface. The electrodes, container wall and surrounding air comprise a capacitance. As the container is rotated about its axis, variations in the container wall thickness are manifested in changes in the capacitance. A circuit connected to the sensing means produces an electrical indication, in response to a change in the capacitance, which capacitance change can be utilized to activate a reject mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 James H Mcmeekin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/02; G01B7/06; G01B7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for detecting variations in the thickness of articles formed of a dielectric material comprising: a. sensing means of flexible conducting material in rubbing contact with a surface of an article whereby said sensing means, said article and the surrounding air jointly comprise a capacitance and said sensing means conforms to the surface of said article; b. indicating means connected to said sensing means for providing an electrical signal in response to a change in said capacitance; and c. means for moving said article in a regular pattern, including movement relative to said sensing means when said article and said sensing means are in rubbing contact; d. whereby a variation in the thickness of said article changes said capacitance to cause said indicating means to provide a signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for detecting variations in the thickness of articles formed of a dielectric material comprising: a. sensing means of flexible conducting material in rubbing contact with a surface of an article whereby said sensing means, said article and the surrounding air jointly comprise a capacitance and said sensing means conforms to the surface of said article; b. indicating means connected to said sensing means for providing an electrical signal in response to a change in said capacitance; and c. means for moving said article in a regular pattern, including movement relative to said sensing means when said article and said sensing means are in rubbing contact; d. whereby a variation in the thickness of said article changes said capacitance to cause said indicating means to provide a signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a plurality of electrodes of resilient conducting material adapted to conform to the shape of the surface of said article when said article is placed in rubbing contact with said sensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a strip of spring metal disposed so that the longitudinal axis thereof is generally parallel with respect to the direction of movement of said article relative to said sensing means when said article and said sensing means are in rubbing contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said indicating means comprises: a. a bridge circuit including inductive and capacitive legs; b. means for connecting said sensing means to said bridge circuit whereby said capacitance provided by said sensing means and said article comprises one leg of saId bridge; c. means connected to said bridge for producing an output signal as determined by the capacitance produced in response to the thickness of said article; and d. means for connecting a source of electrical energy to said bridge circuit and to said output signal producing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said output signal producing means includes an oscillator and wherein said bridge circuit includes tuning means, whereby the presence or absence of a signal from said oscillator is determined by the variation of thickness of said article being in excess of a predetermined amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including reject means operatively connected to said indicating means for separating those articles having a variation in thickness under control of said indicating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said article is a container of glass or like dielectric material and wherein said means for moving said article comprises: a. means for moving a succession of containers into an inspection station; and b. means at said station for placing said articles in rubbing contact with said sensing means and for rotating said containers about their vertical axes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for detecting variations in the thickness of containers of glass or like dielectric material comprising: a. means for moving a succession of containers into an inspection station; b. a plurality of electrodes of flexible conducting material; c. means for mounting said electrodes at said inspection station whereby said electrodes are permitted to flex and conform to the shape of the surface of a container when said container is placed in rubbing contact with said electrodes; d. means at said inspection station for placing said container in rubbing contact with said electrodes and for rotating said container about its vertical axis; e. means for applying an electrical potential to said electrodes; and f. means connected to said electrodes for producing an electrical signal in response to a change in capacitance associated with said electrodes caused by a deviation in the thickness of said container from a predetermined standard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for detecting variations in the thickness of containers of glass or like dielectric material comprising: a. means for moving a succession of containers into an inspection station; b. a plurality of electrodes of flexible conducting material; c. means for mounting said electrodes at said inspection station whereby said electrodes are permitted to flex and conform to the shape of the surface of a container when said container is placed in rubbing contact with said electrodes; d. means at said inspection station for placing said container in rubbing contact with said electrodes and for rotating said container about its vertical axis; e. means for applying an electrical potential to said electrodes; and f. means connected to said electrodes for producing an electrical signal in response to a change in capacitance associated with said electrodes caused by a deviation in the thickness of said container from a predetermined standard.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a strip of spring metal disposed so that the longitudinal axis thereof is generally perpendicular with respect to the axis of said container when said electrodes and said container are in rubbing contact.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said signal producing means comprises: a. a bridge circuit including inductive and capacitive legs; b. means for connecting said electrodes to said bridge circuit whereby the capacitance provided by said electrodes, said container in rubbing contact with said electrodes, and the adjacent air comprise one leg of said bridge; and c. means connected to said bridge for producing an output signal as determined by the capacitance produced in response to the thickness of said container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said output signal producing m producing means includes an oscillator and wherein said bridge circuit includes tuning means, whereby the presence or absence of a signal from said oscillator is determined by the variations of thickness of said container in excess of a predetermined amount.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 further including reject means operatively connected to said signal producing means for rejecting or separating those containers having wall thickness deviations in excess of said standard.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of inspecting containers of glass or like dielectric material for wall thickness variations comprising the steps of: a. moving said container so as to place the outer wall surface of said container in rubbing contact with a plurality of flexible electrodes which, together with said container wall and the surrounding air comprises a capacitance; b. said step of moving being continUed until said electrodes flex slightly to conform to a portion of said container outer wall surface; c. rotating said container about the axis thereof while said outer wall surface is in rubbing contact with said electrodes; d. producing an electrical signal indicative of changes in said capacitance resulting from changes in the thickness of said container wall which exceed a predetermined amount; and e. utilizing said signal to reject or separate those containers having said wall thickness variations.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of inspecting containers of glass or like dielectric material for wall thickness variations comprising the steps of: a. moving said container so as to place the outer wall surface of said container in rubbing contact with a plurality of flexible electrodes which, together with said container wall and the surrounding air comprises a capacitance; b. said step of moving being continUed until said electrodes flex slightly to conform to a portion of said container outer wall surface; c. rotating said container about the axis thereof while said outer wall surface is in rubbing contact with said electrodes; d. producing an electrical signal indicative of changes in said capacitance resulting from changes in the thickness of said container wall which exceed a predetermined amount; and e. utilizing said signal to reject or separate those containers having said wall thickness variations.
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) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |