US4215939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Glue drop detector
Assignee: BPrex Healthcare Brookville Inc
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Filing: 1977-12-22
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Granted: 1980-08-05
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Expires: 1997-12-22
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining whether a glue drop is present on the reflective inner surface of a closure. Collimated light is projected onto the reflective inner surface of the closure, and a measurement is taken of the amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from the closure. The measurement of the amount of light reflected in this way is used to determine whether a glue drop is present.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. V. Miller
- 👤 James A. Ringlien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/94; G01V; G01V8/00; G01V8/10; G01V8/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for determining whether a glue drop is present on the inside of a closure comprising the steps of: (a) projecting collimated light through a beam splitter and onto the generally flat reflective inside surface of a closure, said beam splitter being positioned so that it receives reflections from said closure inside surface; and (b) measuring the amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from the inside closure surface, with a relatively greater amount of light remaining collimated after reflection when a glue drop is not present.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for determining whether a glue drop is present on the inside of a closure comprising the steps of: (a) projecting collimated light through a beam splitter and onto the generally flat reflective inside surface of a closure, said beam splitter being positioned so that it receives reflections from said closure inside surface; and (b) measuring the amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from the inside closure surface, with a relatively greater amount of light remaining collimated after reflection when a glue drop is not present.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step b includes the steps of: (a) passing light which has been reflected from said beam splitter through a converging lens, said lens being positioned so that light which remains collimated after reflection from said closure inner surface enters the lens parallel to its optic axis, thus passing through the focal point of said lens; (b) blocking out all light which does not pass through the focal point of said lens; and (c) measuring the amount of light which does pass through the focal point of said lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step b includes measuring the amount of light reflected from said closure inner surface with a photoelectric detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 3 including the steps of: (a) comparing the output of said photoelectric detector to a reference signal, the value of which is less than the average output of the photoelectric detector when a glue drop is not present; and (b) generating a signal, said signal indicating the absence of a glue drop, whenever the output of the photoelectric detector is less than the value of the reference signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for determining whether a glue drop is present on the inside of a closure having a generally flat reflective inner surface comprising: (a) means for projecting collimated light onto the inside surface of said closure; (b) a beam splitter located such that said collimated light passes through it before striking said closure inner surface and so that light which remains collimated after relfection from said closure inner surface strikes the beam splitter and is reflected off it; and (c) means for measuring the amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from said closure inner surface, with a relatively greater amount of light remaining collimated after reflection from a closure without a glue drop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for determining whether a glue drop is present on the inside of a closure having a generally flat reflective inner surface comprising: (a) means for projecting collimated light onto the inside surface of said closure; (b) a beam splitter located such that said collimated light passes through it before striking said closure inner surface and so that light which remains collimated after relfection from said closure inner surface strikes the beam splitter and is reflected off it; and (c) means for measuring the amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from said closure inner surface, with a relatively greater amount of light remaining collimated after reflection from a closure without a glue drop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: means for comparing the amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from said closure inner surface and a reference level, the value of which is less than the average amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from closures without a glue drop and greater than the average amount of light which remains collimated after reflection from closures with a glue drop; and means for generating an indicator and control signal whenever the amount of light which remains collimated after reflection exceeds said reference level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said comparing means includes: a comparator, the output of which is used as a trigger to indicate the presence of glue drop and to activate a control signal for reflecting closures without a glue drop; a reference voltage, the value of which corresponds to said reference level, feeding one input of said comparator; and a photoelectric detector, said detector receiving light which remains collimated after reflection from said closure inner surface, feeding the other input of said comparator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for projecting collimated light includes a converging lens and a light source located at the focal point of said lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a converging lens, said lens being located so that it receives reflections from said beam splitter and oriented so that light which remains collimated after reflection from said closure inner surface enters the lens parallel to its optic axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a screen located in the focal plane of said lens, said screen having an aperture at the focal point of said lens, thus allowing only light which enters said lens parallel to its optic axis to pass through said screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a photoelectric detector located behind said screen so that it receives all light which passes through said aperture.
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) | 1983-08-05 | 1984-02-04 | 1984-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-05 | 1988-02-04 | 1988-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-05 | 1992-02-04 | 1992-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |