US3746165A — Bottle inspection apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 126 words

In bottle inspection apparatus for optically inspecting the bases of transparent bottles and other containers, a light source disposed below an inspection position through which each container is fed, a photocell device disposed above said position for scanning the base of a container whilst it is illuminated by said light source, a substantially horizontal translucent plate disposed above said light source and on which the container bases are supported as said containers move over said base light source, said containers being supported upon a part only of the upper surface of said plate, means mounting said plate for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, and means for cleaning said upper surface, as said plate rotates, in areas of its surface which are not occupied by containers.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 126 words

In bottle inspection apparatus for optically inspecting the bases of transparent bottles and other containers, a light source disposed below an inspection position through which each container is fed, a photocell device disposed above said position for scanning the base of a container whilst it is illuminated by said light source, a substantially horizontal translucent plate disposed above said light source and on which the container bases are supported as said containers move over said base light source, said containers being supported upon a part only of the upper surface of said plate, means mounting said plate for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, and means for cleaning said upper surface, as said plate rotates, in areas of its surface which are not occupied by containers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate is an opal plastics plate which is slowly rotatable about said vertical axis by the friction of the moving containers on said upper surface of said plate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 58 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cleaning means comprises a rotary brush engaging said upper surface, an arrangement for supplying a drip feed of detergent to said brush and two generally radially disposed squeegee wiper blades engaging said surface downstream from said brush and between which rinse water is applied to said surface of said plate.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including a rejection mechanism disposed so as to reject a reject bottle at the inspection position whereby, upon inspection of a bottle showing it to be faulty, that bottle is immediately removed by the reject mechanism from the conveyor line.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 155 words

In inspection apparatus for inspecting bottles and other containers moving along a conveyor line, a mechanism for rejecting from said line a container which is shown, upon inspection, to be dirty, said rejection mechanism being disposed adjacent the inspection position and comprising a pivoted lever arm swingable towards and away from said inspection position and having spaced fingers adjacent said position which project into the path of movement of the containers on opposite sides of a container at said inspection position upon movement towards said position, actuator means responsive to a reject signal produced upon detection of a dirty container at said inspection position to move said lever arm towards said dirty container at said position and cause its fingers to project into the path of movement of said containers on opposite sides of said dirty container, and an ejector device operable to push said dirty container disposed between said fingers from said conveyor line.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 155 words

In inspection apparatus for inspecting bottles and other containers moving along a conveyor line, a mechanism for rejecting from said line a container which is shown, upon inspection, to be dirty, said rejection mechanism being disposed adjacent the inspection position and comprising a pivoted lever arm swingable towards and away from said inspection position and having spaced fingers adjacent said position which project into the path of movement of the containers on opposite sides of a container at said inspection position upon movement towards said position, actuator means responsive to a reject signal produced upon detection of a dirty container at said inspection position to move said lever arm towards said dirty container at said position and cause its fingers to project into the path of movement of said containers on opposite sides of said dirty container, and an ejector device operable to push said dirty container disposed between said fingers from said conveyor line.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said ejector device is mounted on said lever arm and includes a reciprocable plunger projecting between said fingers.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-07-16	1977-01-15	1977-07-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-07-16	1981-01-15	1981-07-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-07-16	1985-01-15	1985-07-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Bottle inspection apparatus

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