US3832885A — Method and apparatus for inspecting sealed contai…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 148 words

A device for inspecting a plurality of sealed containers with electrically conducting end closures that are enclosed within a carton and are arranged in rows and column, said device comprising: a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged in a single row and equal in number to the total number of containers in a single row in said carton; and electrical means for sequentially and repetitively energizing the coils in said plurality of coils by a sudden discharge of electrical energy therein so as to produce repetitive audible sounds from containers that are positioned adjacent to and in line with said coils, said electrical means being adapted to energize said coils so that the period between the energization of any two successively energized coils of said plurality of coils is substantially the same as the corresponding period of any other pair of successively energized coils of said plurality of coils.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 148 words

A device for inspecting a plurality of sealed containers with electrically conducting end closures that are enclosed within a carton and are arranged in rows and column, said device comprising: a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged in a single row and equal in number to the total number of containers in a single row in said carton; and electrical means for sequentially and repetitively energizing the coils in said plurality of coils by a sudden discharge of electrical energy therein so as to produce repetitive audible sounds from containers that are positioned adjacent to and in line with said coils, said electrical means being adapted to energize said coils so that the period between the energization of any two successively energized coils of said plurality of coils is substantially the same as the corresponding period of any other pair of successively energized coils of said plurality of coils.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

A device according to claim 1 wherein said electrical means is adapted to energize each coil between about 2 and 8 times per second.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 10 words

A device according to claim 1 consisting of four coils.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

A device according to claim 1 further including control means for operating said electrical means only so long as said coils are adjacent to and aligned with containers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

A device according to claim 4 wherein said control means comprises means for sensing when said coils are adjacent to and aligned with a row of cans.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 95 words

A device according to claim 1 wherein said electrical means comprises means for storing electrical energy, a plurality of switches equal in number to said coils, means connecting each of said switches in series with one of said coils and said electrical energy storage means, means normally biasing said switches to an open condition, means for sequentially and repetitively closing said switches so as to sequentially and repetitively energize said coils by the discharge of electrical energy from said electrical energy storage means, and means for replenishing the electrical energy through one of said coils.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

A device according to claim 6 wherein said switches are solid state devices.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

A device according to claim 7 wherein said switches are controlled rectifiers each having a gate electrode, and said means for sequentially and repetitively closing said switches comprises means for sequentially and repetitively applying electrical signals to said gate electrodes.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 62 words

A device according to claim 8 wherein said means for sequentially and repetitively applying signals to said gate electrodes comprises a ring counter having a different output line for each controlled rectifier, means coupling said output lines to said gate electrodes, and means for incrementing said counter so that signals for firing said rectifier appear sequentially and repetitively on said output lines.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

A device according to claim 9 wherein said means for incrementing said counter comprises means for generating a train of clock pulses at a steady frequency, and means for applying said clock pulses to said counter.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

A device according to claim 10 further including means for varying the frequency of said clock pulses.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

A device according to claim 10 including means for preventing generation of said clock pulses until said coils are positioned adjacent to and in line with containers to be inspected.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 43 words

A device according to claim 1 comprising: a housing; means mounting said coils To said housing; guide means connected to said housing for aligning said housing with a carton to be inspected; and switch means for controlling the operation of said electrical means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 including a support for said coils, means mounting said transducer coils to said support, and carton-marking means mounted to said support for marking the location of each container with unsatisfactory internal pressure.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 164 words

The method of inspecting a closed carton of sealed containers that have electrically conductive end closures and are arranged in said carton in discrete rows, comprising providing a single row of electromagnetic coils, one coil for each container in a single one of said discrete rows, locating said row of coils and said carton adjacent one another so that said coils are aligned with the containers in one of said rows, sequentially and repetitively energizing said coils at a selected substantially constant repetition rate by discharging impulses of electrical energy therethrough so as to sequentially and repetitively produce audible sounds by deflection of the end closures of the containers in said one row, providing relative movement between said row of coils and said carton so that successive ones of said discrete rows are aligned with said row of coils, and repeating the aforesaid sequential and repetitive energizing of said coils each time said coils are aligned with others of said discrete rows of containers.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 164 words

The method of inspecting a closed carton of sealed containers that have electrically conductive end closures and are arranged in said carton in discrete rows, comprising providing a single row of electromagnetic coils, one coil for each container in a single one of said discrete rows, locating said row of coils and said carton adjacent one another so that said coils are aligned with the containers in one of said rows, sequentially and repetitively energizing said coils at a selected substantially constant repetition rate by discharging impulses of electrical energy therethrough so as to sequentially and repetitively produce audible sounds by deflection of the end closures of the containers in said one row, providing relative movement between said row of coils and said carton so that successive ones of said discrete rows are aligned with said row of coils, and repeating the aforesaid sequential and repetitive energizing of said coils each time said coils are aligned with others of said discrete rows of containers.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 135 words

The method of inspecting a closed carton of sealed containers that have electrically conductive end closures and are arranged in said carton in discrete rows and columns, said method comprising locating a single row of electromagnetic coils and said carton so that said row of coils extends parallel to said discrete rows and each coil is aligned with a different one of said columns, providing relative movement between said row of coils and said carton so that successive ones of said discrete rows are successively aligned with said row of coils, and sequentially and repetitively energizing said coils at a selected substantially constant repetition rate by discharging impulses of electrical energy therethrough so as to sequentially and repetitively produce audible sounds by deflection and vibration of the end closures of the containers in each row.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 135 words

The method of inspecting a closed carton of sealed containers that have electrically conductive end closures and are arranged in said carton in discrete rows and columns, said method comprising locating a single row of electromagnetic coils and said carton so that said row of coils extends parallel to said discrete rows and each coil is aligned with a different one of said columns, providing relative movement between said row of coils and said carton so that successive ones of said discrete rows are successively aligned with said row of coils, and sequentially and repetitively energizing said coils at a selected substantially constant repetition rate by discharging impulses of electrical energy therethrough so as to sequentially and repetitively produce audible sounds by deflection and vibration of the end closures of the containers in each row.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 16 wherein each of said coils is energized from about two to about eight times per second.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said relative movement is produced by holding said coils stationary and moving said carton.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said relative movement is achieved by moving said coils.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 16 further including the step of discriminating the sounds produced by said containers row by row to determine the internal pressure conditions of the containers in each of said rows.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 20 further including the step of reducing the frequency of energization of said coils whenever the sounds produced by the containers in any one of said rows are indicative of an unsatisfactory pressure condition in any one of the containers in said any one row.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-09-02	1978-03-04	1978-09-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-09-02	1982-03-04	1982-09-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-09-02	1986-03-04	1986-09-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for inspecting sealed containers

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