US3823822A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pushup gauge
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-07
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1993-05-07
Abstract
Abstract An inspection device for glass containers to check for bottom pushup height, more particularly, to check for those containers having a rejectably flat pushup or a rounded bottom and therefore unstable characteristics during handling and filling, the device being adaptable for incorporation into a multistation automatic container inspection apparatus. A probe shaft is positioned below the center of the container and mounted in an elevating apparatus to move the probe shaft upward into contact with the container. The design allows for relative downward movement between the probe and the elevating apparatus when the upward movement of the probe is restricted by the container before the elevating apparatus completes its upward travel. An open switch made of one contact point on the probe and a second on the elevating apparatus is set open a distance determined by the minimum allowable height of a container bottom pushup, and the level beyond that height to which the probe is set to travel, that distance then being the amount of allowable relative motion before the switch is closed. When the switch is closed, an electrical circuit is completed, activating an indicator device to signal that a defective container is in the device, or activating an automatic discharge mechanism to dispose of the container.
Inventors
- 👤 R Cochran
- 👤 A Federle
- 👤 S Marsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:07
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/12; B07C5/122; B07C5/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for inspecting the height of the pushup in the bottom of glass containers, comprising: a. container support means; b. an upper bracket mounted on the underside of said container support means; c. a bushing extending vertically through said upper bracket and through said container support means; d. a hollow shaft with interior threads extending vertically through and mounted for slidable engagement with said vertical bushing, said hollow shaft made of electrically conductive material; e. a threaded adjustable rod mounted within said hollow shaft and extending upwardly beyond the top of said hollow shaft, said threaded rod also extending downward beyond the bottom of said hollow shaft; f. means on said downward end of said threaded rod for adjusting the rod up or down relative to said hollow shaft by rotating said threaded rod relative to said hollow shaft; g. elevating means connected to said shaft and rod to move said shaft and rod upward to sense the pushup height of a container located on said support means; and h. signal means cooperating with said shaft and rod to indicate a container with a rejectable pushup.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for inspecting the height of the pushup in the bottom of glass containers, comprising: a. container support means; b. an upper bracket mounted on the underside of said container support means; c. a bushing extending vertically through said upper bracket and through said container support means; d. a hollow shaft with interior threads extending vertically through and mounted for slidable engagement with said vertical bushing, said hollow shaft made of electrically conductive material; e. a threaded adjustable rod mounted within said hollow shaft and extending upwardly beyond the top of said hollow shaft, said threaded rod also extending downward beyond the bottom of said hollow shaft; f. means on said downward end of said threaded rod for adjusting the rod up or down relative to said hollow shaft by rotating said threaded rod relative to said hollow shaft; g. elevating means connected to said shaft and rod to move said shaft and rod upward to sense the pushup height of a container located on said support means; and h. signal means cooperating with said shaft and rod to indicate a container with a rejectable pushup.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including a probe tip mounted on the upper end of said threaded adjustable rod for non-destructive contact with the bottom of glass containers.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
382 words
An apparatus for inspecting the height of the pushup in the bottom of glass containers, comprising: a. container support means; b. an upper bracket mounted on the underside of said container support means; c. a bushing extending vertically through said upper bracket and through said container support means; d. a hollow shaft with interior threads extending vertically through and mounted for slidable engagement with said vertical bushing, said hollow shaft made of electrically conductive material; e. a threaded adjustable rod mounted within said hollow shaft and extending upwardly beyond the top of said hollow shaft, said threaded rod also extending downward beyond the bottom of said hollow shaft; f. means on said downward end of said threaded rod for adjusting the rod up or down relative to said hollow shaft by rotating said threaded rod relative to said hollow shaft; g. a probe tip mounted on the upper end of said threaded rod for nondestructive contact with the bottom of glass containers; h. elevating means connected to said shaft and rod to move said shaft and rod upward to sense the pushup height of a container located on said support means; i. a radially extending flange formed on the lower portion of said shaft; j. switch contact support means mounted below said upper bracket, formed with a guide therein for slidable engagement with the lower portion of said shaft, said switch contact support means formed from material having electrical insulating properties; k. means on said switch contact support means for vertically biasing said flange, said hollow shaft, and said rod upwards; l. adjustable stop means mounted in said switch contact support means and positioned to contact the upper surface of said flange and position said hollow shaft and rod vertically against said biasing means, said biasing means thereby acting between said switch contact support means and said flange; and m. adjustable sensing switch means positioned to complete an electrical circuit should said rod and hollow shaft and flange be depressed downward against said biasing means beyond a predetermined distance, that distance determined by subtracting the minimum allowable height of a container bottom pushup above said container support means from the level beyond said minimum allowable pushup height to which said shaft, rod, and probe tip will be moved by said elevating means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
382 words
An apparatus for inspecting the height of the pushup in the bottom of glass containers, comprising: a. container support means; b. an upper bracket mounted on the underside of said container support means; c. a bushing extending vertically through said upper bracket and through said container support means; d. a hollow shaft with interior threads extending vertically through and mounted for slidable engagement with said vertical bushing, said hollow shaft made of electrically conductive material; e. a threaded adjustable rod mounted within said hollow shaft and extending upwardly beyond the top of said hollow shaft, said threaded rod also extending downward beyond the bottom of said hollow shaft; f. means on said downward end of said threaded rod for adjusting the rod up or down relative to said hollow shaft by rotating said threaded rod relative to said hollow shaft; g. a probe tip mounted on the upper end of said threaded rod for nondestructive contact with the bottom of glass containers; h. elevating means connected to said shaft and rod to move said shaft and rod upward to sense the pushup height of a container located on said support means; i. a radially extending flange formed on the lower portion of said shaft; j. switch contact support means mounted below said upper bracket, formed with a guide therein for slidable engagement with the lower portion of said shaft, said switch contact support means formed from material having electrical insulating properties; k. means on said switch contact support means for vertically biasing said flange, said hollow shaft, and said rod upwards; l. adjustable stop means mounted in said switch contact support means and positioned to contact the upper surface of said flange and position said hollow shaft and rod vertically against said biasing means, said biasing means thereby acting between said switch contact support means and said flange; and m. adjustable sensing switch means positioned to complete an electrical circuit should said rod and hollow shaft and flange be depressed downward against said biasing means beyond a predetermined distance, that distance determined by subtracting the minimum allowable height of a container bottom pushup above said container support means from the level beyond said minimum allowable pushup height to which said shaft, rod, and probe tip will be moved by said elevating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said vertical biasing means comprises a coiled spring acting between said lower bracket and the bottom surface of said flange.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said adjustable stop means comprises an adjustable set screw positioned downward to contact the upper surface of said flange, said set screw mounted in said switch contact support means and extending downward therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said adjustable sensing swtich means comprises: a. an adjustable set screw of electrically conductive material positioned on said switch contact support means below the lower surface of said flange a distance determined by subtracting the minimum allowable height of a container bottom pushup above said container support means from the level beyond said minimum allowable pushup height to which said shaft, rod, and probe tip will be moved by said elevating means; and b. electrical contact means at the extreme lower end of said threaded rod electrically connected in series circuit arrangement to a voltage source, said source similarly connected to said adjustable set screw, the circuit therein completed through said threaded rod into said hollow shaft and flange to said adjustable set screw when said threaded rod and hollow shaft are depressed against said biasing means by a rejectably flat container pushup into contact with said adjustable set screw as said probe means is moved upwards by said elevating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said signal means comprises a visual or audio indicator connected in series with said voltage source, said indicator being activated when said circuit is closed by contact between said flange and said adjustable set screw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
208 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elevating means comprises: a. a bracket mounted on the underside of said container support means; b. a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket and extending horizontally therefrom; c. crank means connected to said horizontal shaft to rotate said horizontal shaft through a limited and adjustable arc of travel; d. arm means mounted at one end on said horizontal shaft, extending horizontally from and perpendicular to said horizontal shaft, for angular movement in a vertical plane with rotation of said horizontal shaft; e. probe support hanger means hingeDly attached to said arm means at the end opposite said shaft and extending downward therefrom for vertical movement with rotation of said horizontal shaft and angular displacement of said arm means, said probe means hingedly attached to said probe support hanger means, and extending upwardly through said container support means, said probe means thereby capable of vertical sliding movement, without horizontal displacement, upon rotation of said horizontal shaft by said crank means; and f. motor means to oscillate said crank means and move said probe means upward to sense the height of the pushup of a container located on said support means, and lower said probe means out of engagement with said container pushup.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
241 words
In an apparatus for inspecting glass containers, wherein the containers are moved by a conveyor toward a table and into an indexing head having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets mounted for rotation whereby said pockets are successively moved from the position overlying said table to spaced points along the periphery of said indexing head at which points are located a plurality of inspection devices and including a reject station responsive to a signal from one of the inspection stations to discharge a defective container, an apparatus for one of said inspection devices to check for bottom pushup height, comprising: a. container support means; b. a hollow shaft with interior threads extending vertically and mounted for slidable engagement with said container support means; c. a threaded adjustable rod mounted within said hollow shaft and extending upwardly beyond the top of said hollow shaft, said threaded rod also extending downward beyond the bottom of said hollow shaft; and d. means on said downward end of said threaded rod for adjusting the rod up or down relative to said hollow shaft by rotating said threaded rod relative to said hollow shaft; e. elevating means connected to said shaft and rod to move said shaft and rod upward to sense the pushup height of a container located at said inspection station and on said support means; and f. signal means cooperating with said shaft and rod to indicate a container with a defective pushup.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
241 words
In an apparatus for inspecting glass containers, wherein the containers are moved by a conveyor toward a table and into an indexing head having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets mounted for rotation whereby said pockets are successively moved from the position overlying said table to spaced points along the periphery of said indexing head at which points are located a plurality of inspection devices and including a reject station responsive to a signal from one of the inspection stations to discharge a defective container, an apparatus for one of said inspection devices to check for bottom pushup height, comprising: a. container support means; b. a hollow shaft with interior threads extending vertically and mounted for slidable engagement with said container support means; c. a threaded adjustable rod mounted within said hollow shaft and extending upwardly beyond the top of said hollow shaft, said threaded rod also extending downward beyond the bottom of said hollow shaft; and d. means on said downward end of said threaded rod for adjusting the rod up or down relative to said hollow shaft by rotating said threaded rod relative to said hollow shaft; e. elevating means connected to said shaft and rod to move said shaft and rod upward to sense the pushup height of a container located at said inspection station and on said support means; and f. signal means cooperating with said shaft and rod to indicate a container with a defective pushup.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 9, including a probe tip mounted on the upper end of said threaded rod for nondestructive contact with the bottom of glass containers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
258 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further including: a. an upper bracket mounted on the underside of said container support means; b. a guide extending vertically through said upper bracket and through said container support means; c. said hollow shaft being made of electrically conductive material; d. a probe tip mounted on the upper end of said threaded rod for nondestructive contact with the bottom of glass containers; e. a radially extending flange formed on the lower portion of said shaft; f. switch contact support means mounted below said upper bracket, formed with a guide therein for slidable engagement with the lower portion of said shaft, said switch contact support means formed from material having electrical insulating properties; g. means on said switch contact support means for vertically biasing said flange, said hollow shaft, and said rod upwards; h. adjustable stop means mounted in said swtich contact support means and positioned to contact the upper surface of said flange and position said hollow shaft and rod vertically against said biasing means, said biasing means thereby acting between said switch contact support means and said flange; and i. adjustable sensing switch means positioned to complete an electrical circuit should said rod and hollow shaft and flange be depressed downward against said biasing means beyond a predetermined distance, that distance determined by subtracting the minimum allowable height of a container bottom pushup above said container support means from the level beyond said minimum allowable pushup height to which said shaft, rod, and probe tip will be moved by said elevating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said vertical biasing means comprises a coiled spring acting between said lower bracket and the bottom surface of said flange.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said adjustable stop means comprises an adjustable set screw positioned downward to contact the upper surface of said flange, said set screw mounted in said switch contact support means and extending downward therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
159 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said adjustable sensing switch means comprises: a. an adjustable set screw of electrically conductive material positioned on said switch contact support means below the lower surface of said flange a distance determined by subtracting the minimum allowable height of a container bottom pushup above said container support means from the level beyond said minimum allowable pushup height to which said shaft, rod, and probe tip will be moved by said elevating means; and b. electrical contact means on the lower extremity of said threaded rod electrically connected in series circuit arrangement to a voltage source, said source similarly connected to said adjustable set screw, the circuit therein completed through said threaded rod into said hollow shaft and flange to said adjustable set screw when said threaded rod and hollow shaft are depressed against said biasing means by a rejectably flat container pushup as said probe means is moved upwards by said elevating means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
311 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said elevating means comprises: a. a bracket mounted on the underside of said container support means; b. a shaft rotatably mounted in said second bracket and extending horizontally therefrom; c. crank means attached to said shaft for rotation of said shaft; d. rotating cam means, said cam means indexing with the rotation of said indexing head; e. a pushrod hingedly connected to said crank means extending to and communicating with said rotating cam means and reciprocating as said cam means changes position, said reciprocating action thereby causing an oscillating motion in said crank means, the oscillating motion being in magnitude proportional to the shape of said cam means; f. arm means mounted on said horizontal shaft, extending horizontally from and perpendicular to said horizontal shaft, for angular movement in a vertical plane with rotation of said shaft; and g. probe support hanger means hingedly attached to said arm means and extending downward therefrom for vertical movement with rotation of said horizontal shaft and angular displacement of said arm means by said crank means communicating with said cam means, said hollow shaft and rod hingedly attached to said probe support hanger means extending upwardly through said container support means, said hollow shaft and rod thereby capable of vertical sliding movement, without horizontal displacement, upon rotation of said horizontal shaft, the vertical movement predetermined by the design of said cam means to locate the upper end of said rod a fixed distance above the top surface of said container support means when a container is in inspection alignment, said fixed distance being greater than the minimum allowable height of a container pushup above said container support means, and retract said hollow shaft and rod to a height no higher than the level of the container support means so as to avoid contact with a container during indexing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2293586A
Cited
US3407931A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |