US3829690A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for the examination of articles for defects
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-29
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1993-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A method for examining the upper part of a glass vessel for defects comprises the steps of applying a fluorescent material to selected surfaces of the upper part of the vessel while inhibiting the introduction of the fluorescent material into voids or defects existing in coated surfaces, irradiating the coated surface with light having a frequency for exciting the fluorescent material, scanning the surface for discontinuities occurring in fluorescent radiation which corresponds to defects in the vessel, and providing an indication of the existence of such a discontinuity. The selected surfaces, in particular, comprise helically formed threads and the top surfaces of screw top beverage bottle. An apparatus in accordance with the invention is provided for effecting the examination of a glass vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 E Snyder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/91; G01N21/90; G01N21/9054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for examining articles for the detection of voids which extend into the article from a surface of the article comprising the steps of: Depositing a material on the surface of an article being examined and inhibiting the introduction of the material into voids extending into the article from the surface, said material adapted to fluoresce when irradiated with light energy of a predetermined spectrum; Irradiating the surface of said article at the predetermined spectrum for exciting the fluorescent material and causing fluorescent radiation therefrom; and, Detecting discontinuities occurring in fluorescent radiation along the surface thereof corresponding to voids in the surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for examining articles for the detection of voids which extend into the article from a surface of the article comprising the steps of: Depositing a material on the surface of an article being examined and inhibiting the introduction of the material into voids extending into the article from the surface, said material adapted to fluoresce when irradiated with light energy of a predetermined spectrum; Irradiating the surface of said article at the predetermined spectrum for exciting the fluorescent material and causing fluorescent radiation therefrom; and, Detecting discontinuities occurring in fluorescent radiation along the surface thereof corresponding to voids in the surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluorescent material is deposited on the surface and inhibited from introduction into the voids by applying the material with an applicator having a surface hardness which inhibits the applicator surface from extending into a void existing in the surface of the article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said coated surface is irradiated by scanning the coated surface with a light beam thereby causing sequential fluorescent radiation from the coated surface at a radiation detection means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said coated surface is scanned by providing relative motion between the light beam and the article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein relative motion is provided between said article and said light beam by transporting said article about an axis of the article past a stationary light beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 3 including projecting the light beam at the coated surface through an optical filter which transmits light of a limited frequency spectrum for exciting the coated material and projecting the fluorescent radiation at the detection means through an optical filter which transmits light of a limited frequency spectrum corresponding to the spectrum of fluorescent radiation of the excited fluorescent material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said fluorescent radiation is projected at said detection means and said detection means is scanned for generating electrical indications in digital form of the occurrence or the absence of fluorescent radiation from a selected surface of the article.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said coated material comprises a solution of quinine in a solvent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said applicator is formed of rubber.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for examining a glass vessel for defects which extend from a surface of the vessel into the vessel comprising the steps of: Applying a fluorescent material to a selected surface of the vessel with an applicator having a surface dimension and firmness which inhibit the entry of the applicator surface and the fluorescent material into a void existing in the surface; Irradiating the coated surface with light having a frequency spectrum for exciting the fluorescent material and causing fluorescent radiation therefrom; Scanning the coated surface by providing relative motion between the coated surface and said irradiating light; Detecting discontinuities occurring in fluorescent radiation which correspond to a void in the vessel surface; and, Providing an indication of the existence of the discontinuity.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for examining a glass vessel for defects which extend from a surface of the vessel into the vessel comprising the steps of: Applying a fluorescent material to a selected surface of the vessel with an applicator having a surface dimension and firmness which inhibit the entry of the applicator surface and the fluorescent material into a void existing in the surface; Irradiating the coated surface with light having a frequency spectrum for exciting the fluorescent material and causing fluorescent radiation therefrom; Scanning the coated surface by providing relative motion between the coated surface and said irradiating light; Detecting discontinuities occurring in fluorescent radiation which correspond to a void in the vessel surface; and, Providing an indication of the existence of the discontinuity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said vessel coMprises a glass bottle and said selected surface comprises a top surface of the bottle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said vessel comprises a glass bottle and said selected surface comprises a helically shaped integral glass thread formed in an upper part of the bottle and which is adapted for engaging a closure cap for the bottle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said selected surface includes a shoulder segment integrally formed in an upper part of the bottle for sealing a bottle cap thereto.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for examining a glass beverage bottle for defects or flaws in an upper portion of the bottle, said upper portion including an integrally formed top wall surface and a helically shaped thread for engaging a closure member for the bottle comprising the steps of: Coating a surface of the thread with a fluorescent material which is deposited on said surface by an applicator having a surface area and stiffness which inhibits the entrance of the applicator and the introduction of coating material into voids or flaws which extend from the surface of the thread into the body of the thread; Projecting a narrow rectangular shaped beam of ultraviolet light at said upper portion of said bottle thereby causing fluorescent radiation to emanate from coated surfaces located within the relatively narrow area of beam impingement; Rotating the bottle about a longitudinal axis thereof, past the light beam; Directing the fluorescent radiation at a photo detection means for generating an electrical signal representative of beam impingement upon said photo detection means; and, Analyzing an electrical output signal from said photo detection means for sensing discontinuities occurring in fluorescent radiation from said coated surface which correspond to a defect in the surface.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for examining a glass beverage bottle for defects or flaws in an upper portion of the bottle, said upper portion including an integrally formed top wall surface and a helically shaped thread for engaging a closure member for the bottle comprising the steps of: Coating a surface of the thread with a fluorescent material which is deposited on said surface by an applicator having a surface area and stiffness which inhibits the entrance of the applicator and the introduction of coating material into voids or flaws which extend from the surface of the thread into the body of the thread; Projecting a narrow rectangular shaped beam of ultraviolet light at said upper portion of said bottle thereby causing fluorescent radiation to emanate from coated surfaces located within the relatively narrow area of beam impingement; Rotating the bottle about a longitudinal axis thereof, past the light beam; Directing the fluorescent radiation at a photo detection means for generating an electrical signal representative of beam impingement upon said photo detection means; and, Analyzing an electrical output signal from said photo detection means for sensing discontinuities occurring in fluorescent radiation from said coated surface which correspond to a defect in the surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said rectangular shaped beam is projected at said bottle for providing that a relatively longer dimension of said rectangular shaped beam is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said bottle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said photo detection means includes a photodetector which is segmented into a plurality of photo detector elements and said elements are sequentially scanned.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for detecting surface voids existing in an article comprising: Means for depositing a fluorescent material on a selected surface of an article being examined and for inhibiting the introduction of the material into a void extending into the article from said surface; Means for irradiating said coated surface at a frequency for exciting the deposited fluorescent material thereby causing fluorescent radiation from said surface; and, Means for detecting a discontinuity occurring in fluorescent radiation along the surface corresponding to a void in the surface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for detecting surface voids existing in an article comprising: Means for depositing a fluorescent material on a selected surface of an article being examined and for inhibiting the introduction of the material into a void extending into the article from said surface; Means for irradiating said coated surface at a frequency for exciting the deposited fluorescent material thereby causing fluorescent radiation from said surface; and, Means for detecting a discontinuity occurring in fluorescent radiation along the surface corresponding to a void in the surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said fluorescent material comprises a solution of quinine in a vehicle.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for examining the upper part of a glass vessel for voids occurring therein comprising: Means for applying a fluorescent material to selected surfaces of the upper part of the vessel, said means including an applicator body in contact with said surface and having a dimension which is generally larger than the voids occurring in the vessel and having a surface hardness for inhibiting the entry of said applicator surface and the introduction of said material into said voids; Means for scanning the coated surface with light having a frequency for exciting the fluorescent material; and, Means for detecting discontinuities in fluorescent radiation corresponding to voids in the surface.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for examining the upper part of a glass vessel for voids occurring therein comprising: Means for applying a fluorescent material to selected surfaces of the upper part of the vessel, said means including an applicator body in contact with said surface and having a dimension which is generally larger than the voids occurring in the vessel and having a surface hardness for inhibiting the entry of said applicator surface and the introduction of said material into said voids; Means for scanning the coated surface with light having a frequency for exciting the fluorescent material; and, Means for detecting discontinuities in fluorescent radiation corresponding to voids in the surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
107 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for scanning said selected surface and detecting discontinuities in fluorescent radiation comprises a source of ultraviolet light, means for providing relative motion between said light source and said vessel, means for projecting ultraviolet light from said source at sAid selected surface through an optical filter which transmits ultraviolet light and inhibits the transmission of visible light, a photodetector, means for projecting fluorescent radiation at said photodetector through an optical filter which transmits light within a limited frequency spectrum corresponding to the spectrum of the fluorescent radiation, said photodetector providing an output signal corresponding to voids in the selected surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said photodetector comprises a plurality of segmented photodetector elements and means are provided for sequentially scanning each of said elements for sensing the occurrence or non-occurrence of an electrical signal at said element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said applicator is formed of rubber.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for examining recycled glass vessels comprising the steps of: Conveying the vessels to a washing and rinsing station; Washing and rinsing the vessels; Conveying the vessels from the washing and rinsing station to a coating station; Applying a fluorescent material to a selected surface of the vessel with an applicator having a surface dimension and firmness which inhibits the entry of the applicator surface and the fluorescent material into voids or defects existing in the surface; Irradiating the coated surface with light having a frequency spectrum for exciting the fluorescent material and causing fluorescent radiation therefrom; Scanning the coated surface by providing relative motion between the coated surface and said irradiating light; Detecting discontinuities occurring in fluorescent radiation which correspond to a void in the vessel surface; and Discarding the vessels in which voids in the vessel surface were detected.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for examining recycled glass vessels comprising the steps of: Conveying the vessels to a washing and rinsing station; Washing and rinsing the vessels; Conveying the vessels from the washing and rinsing station to a coating station; Applying a fluorescent material to a selected surface of the vessel with an applicator having a surface dimension and firmness which inhibits the entry of the applicator surface and the fluorescent material into voids or defects existing in the surface; Irradiating the coated surface with light having a frequency spectrum for exciting the fluorescent material and causing fluorescent radiation therefrom; Scanning the coated surface by providing relative motion between the coated surface and said irradiating light; Detecting discontinuities occurring in fluorescent radiation which correspond to a void in the vessel surface; and Discarding the vessels in which voids in the vessel surface were detected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |