US3887285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flask inspection
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-28
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1994-02-28
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for inspecting the junction of the neck and shoulder portions of a flask-type glass container for the presence of checks in the junction. The transverse dimension of the junction of the neck and shoulder portions of a glass flask is illuminated, on both sides of the neck, by light sources above the flask which shine through the neck and focus an image of their filament on the junction area opposite their location relative to the neck. Light responsive units sense any reflection from checks in the illuminated area. A signal generation unit then generates a signal in response to a sensed reflection, and this signal may be used to reject any glass container causing such a signal to be generated.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Fry
- 👤 Stanislav A Sacha
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/90; G01N21/9054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for inspecting glass containers, said glass containers having an elongated neck portion which merges with a shoulder portion and a generally elliptical main body cross section with an elongated longitudinal dimension with respect to the transverse dimension, which comprises, in combination: means for transporting said glass containers in single file and in an upright position to and through an inspection zone along a fixed centerline of travel; means, positioned in said inspection zone, for illuminating the junction of said neck and shoulder portions along the transverse dimension only of said glass containers; light responsive means for sensing reflection from defects occurring at said illuminated junction; and signal generating means for generating a signal in response to reflection sensed by said light responsive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for inspecting glass containers, said glass containers having an elongated neck portion which merges with a shoulder portion and a generally elliptical main body cross section with an elongated longitudinal dimension with respect to the transverse dimension, which comprises, in combination: means for transporting said glass containers in single file and in an upright position to and through an inspection zone along a fixed centerline of travel; means, positioned in said inspection zone, for illuminating the junction of said neck and shoulder portions along the transverse dimension only of said glass containers; light responsive means for sensing reflection from defects occurring at said illuminated junction; and signal generating means for generating a signal in response to reflection sensed by said light responsive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for inspecting glass containers, said glass containers having an elongated neck portion which merges with a shoulder portion and a generally elliptical main body cross section with an elongated longitudinal dimension with respect to the transverse dimension, which comprises, in combination: means for transporting said glass containers in single file and in an upright position to and through an inspection zone along a fixed centerline of travel; means, positioned in said inspection zone, for illuminating the junction of said neck and shoulder portions along the transverse dimension only of said glass containers; light responsive means for sensing reflection from defects occurring at said illuminated junction; and signal generating means for generating a signal in response to reflection sensed by said light responsive means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for inspecting glass containers, said glass containers having an elongated neck portion which merges with a shoulder portion and a generally elliptical main body cross section with an elongated longitudinal dimension with respect to the transverse dimension, which comprises, in combination: means for transporting said glass containers in single file and in an upright position to and through an inspection zone along a fixed centerline of travel; means, positioned in said inspection zone, for illuminating the junction of said neck and shoulder portions along the transverse dimension only of said glass containers; light responsive means for sensing reflection from defects occurring at said illuminated junction; and signal generating means for generating a signal in response to reflection sensed by said light responsive means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including: rejection means, operative in response to said signal from said signal generating means, for rejecting any glass container causing generation of said signal by said signal generating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including: means, responsive to the presence of a glass container in said inspection zone, for activating said signal generating means to accept an input from said light responsive means only when said glass container is in a known position in said inspection zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
135 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for illuminating the junction of the neck and shoulder portions of said glass containers along the transverse dimension only thereof includes: a plurality of focused light sources, at least one of said light sources being positioned adjacent the leading edge of said glass containers and at least another one of said light sources being positioned adjacent the trailing edge of said glass containers; and means for supporting said light sources above said glass containers with the direction of beams from said light sources being downward at an angle of between 20* and 45* with respect to horizontal and with the path of travel of said beams being through the neck portion of said glass containers to a focal plane along the shoulder portion of said glass containers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light responsive means includes: at least two photocells, positioned substantially along the centerline of the path of travel of said glass containers and spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the neck portion of said glass container and less than the longitudinal dimension of said glass container; and means for supporting said photocells above said glass containers with the field of view of said photocells being downward toward said illuminated junction at an angle of between twenty and forty-five degrees with respect to vertical.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for inspecting glass containers for the presence of checks, said glass containers having an elongated neck portion which merges with a shoulder portion and a generally elliptical main body cross section with an elongated longitudinal dimension with respect to the transverse dimension, the method comprising the steps of: presenting said glass containers one at a time in an inspection zone; illuminating the junction of said neck and shoulder portions along the transverse dimension only thereof in said inspection zone; sensing reflection from defects occurring at said illuminated junction; and generating a signal in response to any reflection sensed from said illuminated junction.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for inspecting glass containers for the presence of checks, said glass containers having an elongated neck portion which merges with a shoulder portion and a generally elliptical main body cross section with an elongated longitudinal dimension with respect to the transverse dimension, the method comprising the steps of: presenting said glass containers one at a time in an inspection zone; illuminating the junction of said neck and shoulder portions along the transverse dimension only thereof in said inspection zone; sensing reflection from defects occurring at said illuminated junction; and generating a signal in response to any reflection sensed from said illuminated junction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 which further includes the step of: rejecting any glass containEr causing generation of said signal in response to generation of said signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3481467A
Cited
US3509996A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| 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 |