US3879993A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for inspecting glass containers
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
•
Filing: 1973-09-28
•
Granted: 1975-04-29
•
Expires: 1993-09-28
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for detecting rim surface defects in glass containers wherein the edge of a loop of a thin, flexible strip of mechanically durable tape is placed in contact with the sealing rim surface of the glass container while the surface is rotated. The loop of tape is supported in such a manner that it will be flexed or deflected when the lower edge of the loop is contacted by a defect and the deflection of the loop will close a contact, completing a circuit for indicating the presence of a defect in the container. The particular arrangement of the mounting of the tape and the steadying means for the bottle are such that these elements are at a preselected or preset, constant level and the container is brought into and rotated in the inspection station without requiring relative vertical movement of the container and the sensing head.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas B Sorbie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/34; G01B7/345; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/12; B07C5/122; B07C5/124; G01N; G01N19/00; G01N19/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
In apparatus for inspecting glass containers for defects in the rim or sealing surface thereof comprising, container indexing means for successively presenting containers to an inspection station, means at said station for rotating a container about its vertical axis, a stationary member extending over said station, a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly extending arms connected to said stationary support, pivot means at the lower end of each said arm, container rim contacting rollers mounted on said pivot means for steadying and centering the container during rotation, resilient means biasing said rollers in container contacting direction, a thin strip of flexible, resilient tape, a support for holding said tape in a downwardly angled loop with the lower edge of the loop portion of the tape in contact with the rim surface of the container, said looped tape being sufficiently resilient to yield upwardly as a container is brought into station and means carried by said support for sensing the distortion of said loop when encountered by a defect in the container rim.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
In apparatus for inspecting glass containers for defects in the rim or sealing surface thereof comprising, container indexing means for successively presenting containers to an inspection station, means at said station for rotating a container about its vertical axis, a stationary member extending over said station, a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly extending arms connected to said stationary support, pivot means at the lower end of each said arm, container rim contacting rollers mounted on said pivot means for steadying and centering the container during rotation, resilient means biasing said rollers in container contacting direction, a thin strip of flexible, resilient tape, a support for holding said tape in a downwardly angled loop with the lower edge of the loop portion of the tape in contact with the rim surface of the container, said looped tape being sufficiently resilient to yield upwardly as a container is brought into station and means carried by said support for sensing the distortion of said loop when encountered by a defect in the container rim.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support comprises a semi-cylindrical body having a generally X-shaped slot in the flat face thereof and the tape loop is formed by overlapping the free ends of the tape in the X slot and clamping the tape in place.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including a non-conductive plate overlying the face of said body, a clamping screw extending through said plate and adapted to clamp the overlapped portion of the tape for maintaining the tape in a loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tape support is mounted to contact the container at about 90* with respect to the position of the rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sensing means comprises a screw extending through the plate with its end terminating short of the tape and circuit means connected to said screw for indicating when the tape is deflected an amount sufficient to contact the end of said screw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said tape support is mounted to contact the container at about 90* with respect to the position of the rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the looped tape contacts the rim of the container with its width being at an angle of about 60* with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said tape support is mounted to contact the container at about 90* with respect to the position of the rollers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said tape support is mounted to contact the container at about 90* with respect to the position of the rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the looped tape contacts the rim of the container with its width being at an angle of about 60* with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tape support is mounted to contact the container at about 90* with respect to the position of the rollers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said rollers are relatively, diametrically opposed and their surfaces contact the containers at an angle of about 15* - 30* with respect to the horizontal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said rollers contact opposed edges of the rim of the container at substantially 90* with respect to the line of movement of the container into the inspection station and are prepositioned so that the container indexing means moves the containers into contact with the rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said tape loop is prepositioned and the container indexing means brings the container into contact with the loop.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2353813A
Cited
US3073034A
Cited
US3101147A
Cited
US3196550A
Cited
US3395573A
Cited
US3414127A
Cited
US3483971A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |