US3848742A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Glass container inspection machine
Assignee: GLASS MACHINERY Inc A Corp OF
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Filing: 1973-01-02
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-01-02
Abstract
Abstract Containers are diverted from a conveyor onto a base where each container is rolled into an inspection station defined by three rollers. A side belt rolls the containers against a rail and one of the three rollers projects beyond the rail at said inspection station. The other two rollers are independently mounted on oscillating arms which move the side belts into contact with the container to rotate it at said inspection station. An improved inspection head is also disclosed, and the method of fabricating said head whereby the machine can be set-up for inspecting containers of various configuration with a minimum downtime of the machine, all of the light emitters and sensors being frozen in a block in a head for a particular container configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 W Krenmayr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:22
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; G07C3/14; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/12; B07C5/122; B07C5/126; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/915; Y10S209/931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
Container inspection apparatus for use alongside a container conveyor, and comprising: a. a base for supporting the containers in upright position as they are moved along in a line and a rail against which the containers are adapted to be rolled as they are so moved; b. means for diverting containers from the conveyor onto an upstream end of said base; c. means for metering the containers so moving onto the base; d. a continuously driven endless transport belt located at one side of said base, generally opposite said rail to roll the containers and advance them at a speed greater than that permitted by said metering means to space the containers along said base; e. means for rotating each container on a fixed reference axis at an inspection station, said rotating means including said transport belt and means for wrapping a segment of said belt around a portion of the periphery of the container being inspected at said station; and f. said means for so wrapping said belt being selectively movable into and out of engagement with said belt to permit at least one full revolution of the container being inspected on said reference axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
Container inspection apparatus for use alongside a container conveyor, and comprising: a. a base for supporting the containers in upright position as they are moved along in a line and a rail against which the containers are adapted to be rolled as they are so moved; b. means for diverting containers from the conveyor onto an upstream end of said base; c. means for metering the containers so moving onto the base; d. a continuously driven endless transport belt located at one side of said base, generally opposite said rail to roll the containers and advance them at a speed greater than that permitted by said metering means to space the containers along said base; e. means for rotating each container on a fixed reference axis at an inspection station, said rotating means including said transport belt and means for wrapping a segment of said belt around a portion of the periphery of the container being inspected at said station; and f. said means for so wrapping said belt being selectively movable into and out of engagement with said belt to permit at least one full revolution of the container being inspected on said reference axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by a container engaging back-up wheel at said inspection station, which back-up wheel is located on the same side of said container line as said rail, and against which back-up wheel said container can be rotated about said reference axis by said belt at said inspection station, said rail having an active segment projecting beyond said rail.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
THe apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transport belt also extends downstream of said inspection station to roll the inspected container away from said station along said rail when said means for so wrapping said belt is moved out of engagement with said belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by light emitter and sensor means and associated circuitry at said inspection station for generating a reject signal when a container being inspected does not produce the desired inputs to said sensor means in response to a predetermined illumination pattern from said emitter means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for metering the movement of containers onto said base comprises a side belt oriented at an angle to the container conveyor and to said transport belt, said side belt being continuously driven at a speed less than the speed of said transport belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for so wrapping said transport belt segment comprises first and second rollers, each of which rollers is mounted on associated first and second crank arms respectively, and means for moving each of said arms independently of one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized by first and second container sensing switches located in spaced relation along the line of movement of the containers being rolled into said inspection station and adapted for sequenced closing in response thereto, circuit means responsive to said switch closings and including motor means for moving said crank arm into its active position, and said circuit means including as an additional input means responsive to the speed of movement of said transport belt so that said first roller reaches its active position only after a container has reached said inspection station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized by a container engaging back-up wheel at said inspection station, which back-up wheel is located on the same side of said container line as said rail, and against which back-up wheel said container can be rotated about said reference axis by said belt at said inspection station, said rail having an active segment projecting beyond said rail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said circuit means includes means for selectively driving and braking said back-up wheel, said back-up wheel drive means being energized through the second container sensing switch and being deenergized when said back-up wheel braking means is energized, said circuit further including a container revolution counter, and said braking means being energized after at least one revolution of the container at said inspection station and said second crank arm being moved to its inactive position simultaneously therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said circuit means responsive to said sequentially closed container sensing switches comprises a counter with a first input from said first switch, a pulse generator driven from said transport belt and providing a clock pulse for said counter, said counter having a second input from said second switch and an output from said counter for controlling said motor means for said first crank arm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said transport belt includes an active segment or run which follows a generally straight path parallel said container conveyor said transport belt active run having an upstream end adjacent said container metering means and a mid-portion adjacent said inspection station and a downstream end spaced beyond said station, and pulleys at said upstream and downstream end of said active run.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized by a container engaging back-up wheel at said inspection station, which back-up wheel is located on the same side of said container line as said rail, and against which back-up wheel said container can be rotated about said reference axis by said belt at said inspection station, said rail having an active segment projecting beyond said rail.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of clAim 12 wherein said means for metering the movement of containers onto said base comprises a side belt oriented at an angle to the container conveyor and to said transport belt, said side belt being continuously driven at a speed less than the speed of said transport belt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for so wrapping said transport belt segment comprises first and second rollers, each of which rollers is mounted on associated first and second crank arms respectively, and means for moving each of said arms independently of one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said base has a downstream end adjacent the downstream end of said active run of said transport belt, horizontally oriented return conveyor means downstream of said base and generally parallel said container conveyor, and vertically oriented exit belts adjacent the marginal side edges of said return conveyor, each being driven in a sense opposite that of the other to convert the rolling motion of the inspected containers leaving said base to simple translatory motion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
125 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized by supporting means for said light emitters and sensors at said inspection station, said supporting means including a molded block of plastic material supported at a predetermined height above said base, a plurality of rods having their upper ends embedded in said block in a predetermined pattern and their lower ends located at various predetermined distances above said base, a plurality of horizontally extending support members carried by the lower ends of said rods respectively, and each of said support members being oriented at a predetermined angle in its own horizontal plane, said light emitters and sensors being carried by said support members in spaced relation to said rods and at predetermined angles with respect to said rods.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said block comprises a set epoxy resin of heat and age resistant composition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a glass container inspection apparatus of the type wherein containers are advanced single file to an inspection station for momentary rotation on an axis fixed in the apparatus the improvement comprising three independently mounted rollers defining said inspection station axis, at least two of said rollers being movable toward and away from said axis to trap a container therebetween, and a side belt which is engaged by said two movable rollers so that said side belt selectively engages the container to rotate it on said axis between three rollers whenever at least one of said two movable rollers is moved toward said axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a glass container inspection apparatus of the type wherein containers are advanced single file to an inspection station for momentary rotation on an axis fixed in the apparatus the improvement comprising three independently mounted rollers defining said inspection station axis, at least two of said rollers being movable toward and away from said axis to trap a container therebetween, and a side belt which is engaged by said two movable rollers so that said side belt selectively engages the container to rotate it on said axis between three rollers whenever at least one of said two movable rollers is moved toward said axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 18 further characterized by said side belt having an active run extending upstream of said inspection station and thereby serving to advance containers into said inspection station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 19 further characterized by said side belt having said active run extending downstream of said inspection station to move containers out of said inspection station.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 19 further characterized by a guide rail opposite said active run with respect to the path of movement of the containers being advanced to roll these containers into said inspection station.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 20 further characterized by a guide rail opposite said active run with respect to the path of movement of the containers being advanced to roll these containers into said inspection station.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein said third roller extends inwardly past said rail so that an active peripheral portion engages the container at said inspection station.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 23 wherein said third roller is selectively driven and braked, and wherein it is driven to increase the angular velocity of the rolling container entering the inspection station and braked to facilitate removal of the container from said station by said side belt.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein said rollers are not dRiven during the spinning of said container during inspection, and arms for said at least two rollers, said side belt being wrapped around a segment of the container during inspection by said arms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |