US3735144A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container flaw inspection apparatus
Assignee: INEX Inc A DE CORP
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Filing: 1971-07-19
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-07-19
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for inspecting containers, such as glass or plastic bottles, for defects that would render the same unsuitable for commercial use. The apparatus includes means to illuminate each container from more than one position so that defects are highlighted, independently of the orientation of round bodied containers, and means to inspect the container through its filling neck with the area of view and depth of focus selected to be appropriate to the size and character of containers. The inspection means employs photocells arranged in a pattern to make it easy to inspect more or less of the interior of a container and incorporates a lens system having the characteristics of converting an object of substantial depth to an image whose depth is greatly condensed and easily handled by a photocell scanner.
Inventors
- 👤 M Babunovic
- 👤 S Faani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/90; G01N21/9036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
Container flaw inspection apparatus comprising: means to convey axially elongated round bodied containers along a horizontal path which includes an inspection station; a plurality of light sources, each having a light admitting aperture and focusing lens means forming a sharp light beam projected at said inspection station to form an image of said aperture at a plane just beyond said inspection station, said light sources being angularly spaced about said inspection station and directing said respective light beams at the side of a container moving through said inspection station thereby causing a flaw image in the container to glow irrespective of the orientation of the container flaw; flaw image condensing lens means located in axial alignment with the container filling mouth, said condensing lens means having a focal depth substantially equal to the height of the container above the container bottom; photocell means axially aligned with and spaced from said condensing lens means so as to be responsive to the presence of the flaw image glow in a container; and a lens-prism system between said condensing lens means and said photocell means to rotate and collimate the flaw image, said prism in said lens-prism system being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the container to rotate the flaw image relative to said photocell means and the coNtainer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
Container flaw inspection apparatus comprising: means to convey axially elongated round bodied containers along a horizontal path which includes an inspection station; a plurality of light sources, each having a light admitting aperture and focusing lens means forming a sharp light beam projected at said inspection station to form an image of said aperture at a plane just beyond said inspection station, said light sources being angularly spaced about said inspection station and directing said respective light beams at the side of a container moving through said inspection station thereby causing a flaw image in the container to glow irrespective of the orientation of the container flaw; flaw image condensing lens means located in axial alignment with the container filling mouth, said condensing lens means having a focal depth substantially equal to the height of the container above the container bottom; photocell means axially aligned with and spaced from said condensing lens means so as to be responsive to the presence of the flaw image glow in a container; and a lens-prism system between said condensing lens means and said photocell means to rotate and collimate the flaw image, said prism in said lens-prism system being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the container to rotate the flaw image relative to said photocell means and the coNtainer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said light admitting aperture is a beam shaping aperture which is rectangular, and each light source focusing lens is arranged to focus the image of said beam shaping aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
178 words
Container flaw inspection apparatus comprising: means to convey round containers in vertically upright positions along a horizontal path which includes an inspection station; a plurality of light sources arranged in laterally spaced relation in the inspection station such that each light source directs a beam upon the container from a different position and in a direction converging on the container to cause flaws to pick up the light and become bright spots; image condensing lens means disposed at the inspection station to align with the vertical axis of a container above the container mouth to project an image of a predetermined volume of the container interior and transmit the image of flaws as bright spots illuminated by said light sources; photocell means aligned with the image axis of said image condensing lens means and being responsive to the presence of bright spots; and a lens-prism system between said image condensing lens means and said photocell means to collimate the illuminated image, said prism in said lens-prism system being rotatable relative to said photocell means and the actual container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
Container flaw inspection apparatus comprising: means to convey round containers in vertically upright positions along a horizontal path which includes an inspection station; a plurality of light sources arranged in laterally spaced relation in the inspection station such that each light source directs a beam upon the container from a different position and in a direction converging on the container to cause flaws to pick up the light and become bright spots; image condensing lens means disposed at the inspection station to align with the vertical axis of a container above the container mouth to project an image of a predetermined volume of the container interior and transmit the image of flaws as bright spots illuminated by said light sources; photocell means aligned with the image axis of said image condensing lens means and being responsive to the presence of bright spots; and a lens-prism system between said image condensing lens means and said photocell means to collimate the illuminated image, said prism in said lens-prism system being rotatable relative to said photocell means and the actual container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
Container flaw inspection apparatus comprising: conveyor means moving a stream of round containers in vertically erect mouth up positions successively through an inspection station; light activated means spaced above the stream of containers and aligned over said inspection station; a system of lens and prism means disposed between said light activated means and the open mouth of the container in said inspection station, said lens means projecting an image of the container interior toward said light activated means, said prism means being rotatable for rotating the projected image relative to and about the vertical axis of the container; and illumination means adjacent said inspection station including individual light projectors spaced generally horizontally from the side of the container being inspected, and said individual light projectors being arranged to project its light beam at the container from different angles, whereby the containers in the stream moved by said conveyor reach the inspection station in any angular orientation and internal flaws are illuminated by one or more of said illumination means and appear as bright spots in the container image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
178 words
Container flaw inspection apparatus comprising: conveyor means moving a stream of round containers in vertically erect mouth up positions successively through an inspection station; light activated means spaced above the stream of containers and aligned over said inspection station; a system of lens and prism means disposed between said light activated means and the open mouth of the container in said inspection station, said lens means projecting an image of the container interior toward said light activated means, said prism means being rotatable for rotating the projected image relative to and about the vertical axis of the container; and illumination means adjacent said inspection station including individual light projectors spaced generally horizontally from the side of the container being inspected, and said individual light projectors being arranged to project its light beam at the container from different angles, whereby the containers in the stream moved by said conveyor reach the inspection station in any angular orientation and internal flaws are illuminated by one or more of said illumination means and appear as bright spots in the container image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
168 words
Container interior flaw inspection apparatus comprising: means to move round containers in a flow through an inspection station; a flaw scanning head at the inspection station and axially beyond the container mouth including means to rotate the image of the container interior, lens means cooperating with said image rotating means to condense the real depth of the interior of the containers to an image depth, and photocell means beyond said image rotating means from the container to scan the image depth of the container interior; electrical circuit means including means responsive to photocell reaction to a flaw, and a container reject circuit for removing a flawed container from the flow thereof, said reject circuit being activated by said photocell means; and a plurality of sources of light directed upon the containers at the inspection station from different horizontally spaced locations to illuminate flaws therein which cause said photocells to react, said light sources being effective independently of the orientation of the container flaws relative to said light sources.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
168 words
Container interior flaw inspection apparatus comprising: means to move round containers in a flow through an inspection station; a flaw scanning head at the inspection station and axially beyond the container mouth including means to rotate the image of the container interior, lens means cooperating with said image rotating means to condense the real depth of the interior of the containers to an image depth, and photocell means beyond said image rotating means from the container to scan the image depth of the container interior; electrical circuit means including means responsive to photocell reaction to a flaw, and a container reject circuit for removing a flawed container from the flow thereof, said reject circuit being activated by said photocell means; and a plurality of sources of light directed upon the containers at the inspection station from different horizontally spaced locations to illuminate flaws therein which cause said photocells to react, said light sources being effective independently of the orientation of the container flaws relative to said light sources.
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) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |