Patent US3746165A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3746165A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottle inspection apparatus
Assignee: Fords Ltd
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Filing: 1971-12-21
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A bottle inspection apparatus for optically inspecting the bases of transparent bottles comprises a light source disposed below the inspection position through which a line of bottles is fed and a photocell device disposed above the position for scanning the base of each bottle whilst it is illuminated by the light source. As the bottles pass over the light source they are supported on a horizontal translucent plastics plate which is slowly rotatable about a substantially vertical axis. A rejection mechanism for rejecting dirty or faulty bottles from the bottle line in response to a signal from the photocell device is also disposed at the inspection position and is actuated immediately upon detection of a dirty or faulty bottle to remove the latter from the line, thereby making a pulse storage memory device unnecessary.
Inventors
- 👤 G Ford
- 👤 P Waite
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/90; G01N21/9018; G01N21/9009; G01N33/00; G01N33/0078; G01N33/0081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
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.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| 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 |