US3887284A — Scuffed container detector

Claim 1

Independent Claim 194 words

Apparatus for detecting objectionable scuff conditions on the wall of transparent containers, which apparatus comprises: means supporting containers in an upright position and moving the same through a scuff detection station; a trigger device adjacent the detection station to generate a signal each time a container reaches the detection station; a source of light; a light control assembly between said source of light and the detection station, said light control assembly directing the light from said source as a single well defined beam into the detection station to penetrate the containers from one side and at an angle to the upright axis to illuminate the opposite wall in the zone where the scuff conditions occur, the scuffed condition of the illuminated container wall generating an area of diffused light which varies from container to container; a light sensitive member exposed to the illuminated container wall to generate a signal proportional to the level of light diffusion; control means connected to said light sensitive member to select a predetermined level of diffused light; and container reject means responsive to the signal from said trigger device and to said generated signal from said light sensitive member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 194 words

Apparatus for detecting objectionable scuff conditions on the wall of transparent containers, which apparatus comprises: means supporting containers in an upright position and moving the same through a scuff detection station; a trigger device adjacent the detection station to generate a signal each time a container reaches the detection station; a source of light; a light control assembly between said source of light and the detection station, said light control assembly directing the light from said source as a single well defined beam into the detection station to penetrate the containers from one side and at an angle to the upright axis to illuminate the opposite wall in the zone where the scuff conditions occur, the scuffed condition of the illuminated container wall generating an area of diffused light which varies from container to container; a light sensitive member exposed to the illuminated container wall to generate a signal proportional to the level of light diffusion; control means connected to said light sensitive member to select a predetermined level of diffused light; and container reject means responsive to the signal from said trigger device and to said generated signal from said light sensitive member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light control assembly includes a beam shaping member having a sharp-edged aperture therein to receive and pass light from said light source, and means to vary the aperture opening.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apertured member is formed with an opening of a predetermined shape, and said varying means is movable relative to said apertured member to vary the size of said aperture.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said member having the aperture and said aperture varying means cooperate to shape the light beam as a semi-circle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light control assembly includes a beam shaping aperture, a first surface reflecting member disposed beyond said apertured member from said source of light, and means supporting said reflecting member for position adjustment to direct the reflected light beam toward the containers to be subject to detection of scuffing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said light control assembly is spaced above the containers and directs the beam downwardly at an angle of from 15* to 35* off the upright axis of elongation of the containers and above the bottom of the containers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 56 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said single light beam is angularly downwardly directed By said reflecting member onto and through the container from one side to emerge from the opposite side to originate the area of diffused light, said angular direction being selected to produce the area of diffused light for wet or dry containers.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the path of said light beam through the container is angularly downwardly to emerge adjacent the lower portion of the container where scuffing prevails, and said light sensitive member is horizontally spaced from the scuffed area and angularly set to one side of the path of said light beam.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 70 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means includes an electrical circuit having a comparator and a reference member connected to compare said generated signal with a predetermined light level from said reference member, said comparator producing a reject signal upon said generated signal and said reference light level being substantially equal, and means responsive to the production of a reject signal from said comparator to reject the container.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 173 words

Apparatus for detecting objectionable scuff conditions in the wall of transparent containers comprising means to move containers single file through a detection station, a source of light above said station oriented to direct light angularly downwardly toward the containers, said projected light being in the form of a narrow and well defined beam to pass through the container and illuminate the area normally scuffed, a light sensitive member spaced horizontally from and positioned at the opposite side of the station from said projected light beam, said member responding to a predetermined level of light to generate a container reject signal, and means between the containers moved through the station and said light sensitive member to limit the field of view by said light sensitive member to the illuminated area of the containers where scuffing normally occurs, said light sensitive member generating a reject signal for any container having an objectionable scuffed condition causing a diffused light emitting area to generate a light brightness response equal at least to said predetermined level of light.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 173 words

Apparatus for detecting objectionable scuff conditions in the wall of transparent containers comprising means to move containers single file through a detection station, a source of light above said station oriented to direct light angularly downwardly toward the containers, said projected light being in the form of a narrow and well defined beam to pass through the container and illuminate the area normally scuffed, a light sensitive member spaced horizontally from and positioned at the opposite side of the station from said projected light beam, said member responding to a predetermined level of light to generate a container reject signal, and means between the containers moved through the station and said light sensitive member to limit the field of view by said light sensitive member to the illuminated area of the containers where scuffing normally occurs, said light sensitive member generating a reject signal for any container having an objectionable scuffed condition causing a diffused light emitting area to generate a light brightness response equal at least to said predetermined level of light.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-06-02	1978-12-02	1979-06-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-06-02	1982-12-02	1983-06-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-06-02	1986-12-02	1987-06-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Scuffed container detector

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag