US3811567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for insepction of ampoules
Assignee: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-12-18
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Granted: 1974-05-21
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Expires: 1992-12-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for inspection of ampoules wherein ampoules to be inspected are positioned in alignment with a plurality of pairs of holders having inwardly tapering portions, into and by which the shoulder or bottom portions of ampoules are inserted and held, and rotated by the holders without there being any shaking or other movement to cause formation of bubbles in the liquid in the ampoules, and any foreign bodies in the ampoules are illuminated by a source of light without there being reflection of light from other ampoules with the result that inspection of ampoules can be carried out accurately, and without misinterpretation, directly by an operator or by a television camera.
Inventors
- 👤 A Tomita
- 👤 T Karitani
- 👤 T Ohtsuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/90; G01N21/9018; G01N21/9027; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/342; B07C5/3422; B07C5/36; B07C5/363; B07C5/365; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/914; Y10S209/939
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
An apparatus for inspection of ampoules each having a bottom, a shoulder at the upper end, and a tip projecting upwardly from the shoulder, said apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of freely rotatable holders, each pair consisting of an upper and a lower holder each aligned with the other, and having inwardly tapering portions into and by which the shoulder and bottom of an ampoule are inserted and held, said upper holder having a recess therein into which the tip of the ampoule fits without being engaged by said upper holder, transportation means on which the holders are mounted with the upper and lower holders in alignment and in succession around a set, regular path past an inspection point, guide means on said transportation means for moving the upper holder up and down in such a manner that at a first stage of the transportation means the upper holder is raised to increase the space between the two holders for permitting an ampoule to be placed between the holders, at a next stage the upper holder is lowered for securing the ampoule between the holders in which condition the ampoule is carried past the inspection point, and at a last stage the upper holder is raised again so that the ampoule can be removed from the holders, driving means operatively associated with at least one of said holders for rotating the holders and the ampoules secured between the holders about their axis so that the liquid in the ampoules continues to move, as do also any glass fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein, at the inspection point, and a source of light at the inspection point for illuminating the ampoules at the inspection point so as to detect any fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein as the ampoules move past the inspection point.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
312 words
An apparatus for inspection of ampoules each having a bottom, a shoulder at the upper end, and a tip projecting upwardly from the shoulder, said apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of freely rotatable holders, each pair consisting of an upper and a lower holder each aligned with the other, and having inwardly tapering portions into and by which the shoulder and bottom of an ampoule are inserted and held, said upper holder having a recess therein into which the tip of the ampoule fits without being engaged by said upper holder, transportation means on which the holders are mounted with the upper and lower holders in alignment and in succession around a set, regular path past an inspection point, guide means on said transportation means for moving the upper holder up and down in such a manner that at a first stage of the transportation means the upper holder is raised to increase the space between the two holders for permitting an ampoule to be placed between the holders, at a next stage the upper holder is lowered for securing the ampoule between the holders in which condition the ampoule is carried past the inspection point, and at a last stage the upper holder is raised again so that the ampoule can be removed from the holders, driving means operatively associated with at least one of said holders for rotating the holders and the ampoules secured between the holders about their axis so that the liquid in the ampoules continues to move, as do also any glass fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein, at the inspection point, and a source of light at the inspection point for illuminating the ampoules at the inspection point so as to detect any fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein as the ampoules move past the inspection point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for inspection of ampoules as claimed in claim 1 further comprising shading means provided between each pair of the ampoules carried by the transportation means for ensuring cut-off of light from objects external to ampoules being inspected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
163 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a take-up assembly for supplying ampoules one at a time to said holders, said assembly being positioned adjacent said transportation means, said take-up assembly comprising a substantially horizontal belt conveyor on which ampoules are placed in a standing position with the bottoms on the conveyor belt, a star wheel unit at the end of the belt conveyor for taking ampoules one at a time off the end of the belt, guide walls at the end of the belt directed diagonally of the belt and toward the star wheel unit for guiding ampoules toward the star wheel unit, and a rotary unit between the end of one of the guide walls and the star wheel unit and having a portion just above and close to the belt and moving in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the belt conveyor for preventing bridging of the ampoules being fed to the star wheel unit.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
393 words
An apparatus for inspection of ampoules each having a bottom, a shoulder at the upper end, and a tip projecting upwardly from the shoulder, said apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of freely rotatable holders, each pair consisting of an upper and a lower holder each aligned with the other, and having inwardly tapering portions into and by which the shoulder and bottom of an ampoule are inserted and held, said upper holder having a recess therein into which the tip of the ampoule fits without being engaged by said upper holder, transportation means including an upper and a lower disc and a shaft on which the discs are mounted, the upper disc having a plurality of support rods freely slidably mounted thereon for sliding movement up and down and at regular intevals around said upper disc, the upper holders being rotatably mounted on said support rods, rollers at the upper ends of said support rods, and the lower disc having the lower holders rotatably disposed on the periphery thereof at positions corresponding to the upper holders on the upper disc, means coupled to said transportation means for rotating the discs in one direction around the shaft past an inspection point, guide means acting on said rollers for moving the upper holders up and down in such a manner that at a first stage of the transportation means the upper holder is raised to increase the space between the two holders for permitting an ampoule to be placed between the holders, at a next stage the upper holder is lowered for securing the ampoule between the holders in which condition the ampoule is carried past the inspection point, and at a last stage the upper holder is raised again so that the ampoule can be removed from the holders, driving means operatively associated with at least one of said holders for rotating the holders and the ampoules secured between the holders about their axis so that the liquid in the ampoules continues to move, as do also any glass fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein, at the inspection point, and a source of light at the inspection point for illuminating the ampoules at the inspection point so as to detect any fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein as the ampoules move past the inspection point.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
393 words
An apparatus for inspection of ampoules each having a bottom, a shoulder at the upper end, and a tip projecting upwardly from the shoulder, said apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of freely rotatable holders, each pair consisting of an upper and a lower holder each aligned with the other, and having inwardly tapering portions into and by which the shoulder and bottom of an ampoule are inserted and held, said upper holder having a recess therein into which the tip of the ampoule fits without being engaged by said upper holder, transportation means including an upper and a lower disc and a shaft on which the discs are mounted, the upper disc having a plurality of support rods freely slidably mounted thereon for sliding movement up and down and at regular intevals around said upper disc, the upper holders being rotatably mounted on said support rods, rollers at the upper ends of said support rods, and the lower disc having the lower holders rotatably disposed on the periphery thereof at positions corresponding to the upper holders on the upper disc, means coupled to said transportation means for rotating the discs in one direction around the shaft past an inspection point, guide means acting on said rollers for moving the upper holders up and down in such a manner that at a first stage of the transportation means the upper holder is raised to increase the space between the two holders for permitting an ampoule to be placed between the holders, at a next stage the upper holder is lowered for securing the ampoule between the holders in which condition the ampoule is carried past the inspection point, and at a last stage the upper holder is raised again so that the ampoule can be removed from the holders, driving means operatively associated with at least one of said holders for rotating the holders and the ampoules secured between the holders about their axis so that the liquid in the ampoules continues to move, as do also any glass fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein, at the inspection point, and a source of light at the inspection point for illuminating the ampoules at the inspection point so as to detect any fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein as the ampoules move past the inspection point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for inspection of ampoules as claimed in claim 4 further comprising shading means interposed between each pair of ampoules and movable with the transportation means for ensuring cut-off of light from objects external to ampoules being inspected.
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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) | 1977-05-20 | 1977-11-19 | 1978-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-20 | 1981-11-19 | 1982-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-11-19 | 1986-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |