Test device for containers

Claim 1

An apparatus for measuring the resiliency of an object, a movable force arm for applying a force against said object, a support anvil positioned so as to react to the force applied to the object by the force arm, a force cell having a movable core that is attached to said support anvil, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil with a movable core positioned therein, said force cell core attached to the linear variable differential transformer core and means connected between said force arm and the coil of the linear variable differential transformer so that the displacement of the force cell core does not influence the relative displacement between the core and coil of the linear variable differential transformer when a force is applied to said object, and means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the object after it has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 2

An apparatus for measuring the resiliency of an object, a movable force arm for applying a force against said object, a support anvil positioned so as to react to the force applied to the object by the force arm, a force cell having a movable core that is attached to said support anvil, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil with a movable core positioned therein, said force cell core attached to the linear variable differential transformer core and means connected between said force arm and the coil of the linear variable differential transformer so that the displacement of the force cell core does not influence the relative displacement between the core and coil of the linear variable differential transformer when a force is applied to said object, and means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the object after it has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 3

An apparatus for measuring the resiliency of a container including a support deck, a force arm pivotably attached to said support deck, means coupled to one end of said force arm to cause it to rotate, force applying means attached to the other end of said force arm to deliver a force against said container, a force cell with a movable core, the exterior of said force cell attached to said support deck, the core of said force cell attached to a support anvil positioned so as to react to the force applied to the container by said force applying means, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil and a core each mounted for movement independent of each other, said force cell core attached to the linear variable differential transformer core and means connected between said other end of said force arm and the coil of the linear variable differential transformer, so that said other end of said force arm and the coil of said linear differential transformer move substantially together in the same direction when a force is applied to said container, and means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the container after it has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 4

An apparatus for measuring the resiliency of a container including a support deck, a force arm pivotably attached to said support deck, means coupled to one end of said force arm to cause it to rotate, force applying means attached to the other end of said force arm to deliver a force against said container, a force cell with a movable core, the exterior of said force cell attached to said support deck, the core of said force cell attached to a support anvil positioned so as to react to the force applied to the container by said force applying means, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil and a core each mounted for movement independent of each other, said force cell core attached to the linear variable differential transformer core and means connected between said other end of said force arm and the coil of the linear variable differential transformer, so that said other end of said force arm and the coil of said linear differential transformer move substantially together in the same direction when a force is applied to said container, and means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the container after it has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 5

An apparatus for measuring the resiliency of a container including a base with upright sidewalls attached thereto, a horizontally disposed support deck attached to said sidewalls, a container support means disposed intermediate said base and said support deck, a force arm pivotably attached to said support deck, means coupled to one end of said force arm to cause it to rotate, the other end of said force arm positioned adjacent a first side of said container support means, a force applying means attached to said other end of said force arm to deliver a force against said container, a force cell attached to said support deck, said force cell having a movable core with one end attached to a support anvil that is positioned adjacent to and opposite the first side of said container support means, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil and a core each mounted for movement independent of the other, said linear variable differential transformer coil mounted on slide means attached to said support deck, said force cell core attached to the linear variable differential transformer core so that said cores move in unison, a rigid bar attached to said other end of said force arm and attached to the movable coil of the linear variable differential transformer, so that said other end of said force arm and the coil of said linear differential transformer move substantially in unison in the same direction when a force is applied to said container and means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the container after the container has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 6

An apparatus for measuring the resiliency of a container including a base with upright sidewalls attached thereto, a horizontally disposed support deck attached to said sidewalls, a container support means disposed intermediate said base and said support deck, a force arm pivotably attached to said support deck, means coupled to one end of said force arm to cause it to rotate, the other end of said force arm positioned adjacent a first side of said container support means, a force applying means attached to said other end of said force arm to deliver a force against said container, a force cell attached to said support deck, said force cell having a movable core with one end attached to a support anvil that is positioned adjacent to and opposite the first side of said container support means, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil and a core each mounted for movement independent of the other, said linear variable differential transformer coil mounted on slide means attached to said support deck, said force cell core attached to the linear variable differential transformer core so that said cores move in unison, a rigid bar attached to said other end of said force arm and attached to the movable coil of the linear variable differential transformer, so that said other end of said force arm and the coil of said linear differential transformer move substantially in unison in the same direction when a force is applied to said container and means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the container after the container has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 7

An apparatus for measuring the resiliency of a cup-like container including a base with upstanding sidewalls attached to it, a horizontally disposed support deck attached to and spanning the majority of the distance between said sidewalls, a container support elevator positioned to move up and down in the space between said base and deck, a force arm pivotably attached to said support deck and adapted to move in a horizontal direction, a drive motor mounted on said deck with drive means attached to one end of said force arm to cause it to rotate the arm about the pivot attachment, the other end of said force arm positioned adjacent a first side of said elevator, a force applying button attached to said other end of said force arm to deliver a force against a container which is supported on said elevator, a force cell the outer housing of which is attached to said support deck, said force cell having a movable core with one end attached to a bifurcated support anvil that is positioned adjacent to and opposite to the first side of said elevator, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil and a core each mounted for movement independent of the other, said linear variable differential transformer coil mounted on parallel slide bars which are attached to said support deck, said force cell core rigidly attached in linear fashion to the linear variable differential transformer core so that said cores move in unison, a vertically aligned cantilevered post attached to said other end of said force arm, a vertically aligned cantilevered post attached to the mvoable coil of the linear variable differential transformer, a rigid bar attached to said posts so that said other end of said force arm and the coil of said linear variable differential transformer move substantially in unison in the same direction when a force is applied to said container and electrical means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the container after said container has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 8

An apparatus for measuring the resiliency of a cup-like container including a base with upstanding sidewalls attached to it, a horizontally disposed support deck attached to and spanning the majority of the distance between said sidewalls, a container support elevator positioned to move up and down in the space between said base and deck, a force arm pivotably attached to said support deck and adapted to move in a horizontal direction, a drive motor mounted on said deck with drive means attached to one end of said force arm to cause it to rotate the arm about the pivot attachment, the other end of said force arm positioned adjacent a first side of said elevator, a force applying button attached to said other end of said force arm to deliver a force against a container which is supported on said elevator, a force cell the outer housing of which is attached to said support deck, said force cell having a movable core with one end attached to a bifurcated support anvil that is positioned adjacent to and opposite to the first side of said elevator, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil and a core each mounted for movement independent of the other, said linear variable differential transformer coil mounted on parallel slide bars which are attached to said support deck, said force cell core rigidly attached in linear fashion to the linear variable differential transformer core so that said cores move in unison, a vertically aligned cantilevered post attached to said other end of said force arm, a vertically aligned cantilevered post attached to the mvoable coil of the linear variable differential transformer, a rigid bar attached to said posts so that said other end of said force arm and the coil of said linear variable differential transformer move substantially in unison in the same direction when a force is applied to said container and electrical means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the container after said container has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 9

An apparatus for testing a resilient cup including a base with upstanding sidewalls attached to it, a deck for supporting test apparatus positioned at an elevation above said base, said deck spanning the majority of the distance between said sidewalls, a cup support elevator assembly attached to said base and deck with means for moving the elevator up and down, in the space between the said base and deck, a force arm pivoted towards its center and attached to said deck and adapted for movement in a horizontal direction, a drive motor mounted on said deck, a drive screw attached to said motor and coacting with a quick-acting swivel nut located within and near one end of said force arm to cause it to rotate the arm about the pivot attachment, the other end of said force arm positioned adjacent a first side of said elevator, a force applying button attached to said other end of said force arm to deliver a force against a cup which is supported on said elevator, a force cell the outer housing of which is attached to said deck, said force cell having a movable core with one end attached to a bifurcated support anvil that is positioned adjacent to and opposite to the first side of said elevator, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil and a core each mounted for movement independent of the other, said linear variable differential transformer coil mounted on horizontally disposed parallel slide bars the ends of which are attached to said deck, said force cell core rigidly coupled in linear fashion to the linear variable differential transformer core so that said cores move in unison, a vertically aligned cantilevered post attached to said other end of said force arm and adjacent to said force applying button, a vertically aligned cantilevered post attached to the movable coil of the linear variable differential transformer, a rigid bar attached by flexture members to said posts so that the other end of said force arm and the coil or said linear variable differential transformer move substantially in unison in the same direction when a force is applied to said cup and electrical means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the cup after said cup has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 10

An apparatus for testing a resilient cup including a base with upstanding sidewalls attached to it, a deck for supporting test apparatus positioned at an elevation above said base, said deck spanning the majority of the distance between said sidewalls, a cup support elevator assembly attached to said base and deck with means for moving the elevator up and down, in the space between the said base and deck, a force arm pivoted towards its center and attached to said deck and adapted for movement in a horizontal direction, a drive motor mounted on said deck, a drive screw attached to said motor and coacting with a quick-acting swivel nut located within and near one end of said force arm to cause it to rotate the arm about the pivot attachment, the other end of said force arm positioned adjacent a first side of said elevator, a force applying button attached to said other end of said force arm to deliver a force against a cup which is supported on said elevator, a force cell the outer housing of which is attached to said deck, said force cell having a movable core with one end attached to a bifurcated support anvil that is positioned adjacent to and opposite to the first side of said elevator, a linear variable differential transformer having a coil and a core each mounted for movement independent of the other, said linear variable differential transformer coil mounted on horizontally disposed parallel slide bars the ends of which are attached to said deck, said force cell core rigidly coupled in linear fashion to the linear variable differential transformer core so that said cores move in unison, a vertically aligned cantilevered post attached to said other end of said force arm and adjacent to said force applying button, a vertically aligned cantilevered post attached to the movable coil of the linear variable differential transformer, a rigid bar attached by flexture members to said posts so that the other end of said force arm and the coil or said linear variable differential transformer move substantially in unison in the same direction when a force is applied to said cup and electrical means coupled to said force cell and said linear variable differential transformer to detect the magnitude of the force applied to the cup after said cup has been permitted to deform a preselected amount.

Claim 21

The method of measuring the resiliency of a container including the steps of: (a) positioning the container in an upright attitude, while supporting it by its base, so that a portion of the container remote from said base is positioned between a force generating arm and a force reacting anvil, (b) applying a first small force normal to the axis of symmetry of said container to center the container between the force arm and the anvil, (c) applying a second force in the same direction as said first force, (d) reacting said first and second forces with a force cell attached to said anvil, (e) measuring a preselected deflection of the container with a linear variable differential transformer that is directly coupled with said force cell, (f) electrically determining the magnitude of the force applied to the container when said preselected deflection is attained.

Claim 22

The method of measuring the resiliency of a container including the steps of: (a) positioning the container in an upright attitude, while supporting it by its base, so that a portion of the container remote from said base is positioned between a force generating arm and a force reacting anvil, (b) applying a first small force normal to the axis of symmetry of said container to center the container between the force arm and the anvil, (c) applying a second force in the same direction as said first force, (d) reacting said first and second forces with a force cell attached to said anvil, (e) measuring a preselected deflection of the container with a linear variable differential transformer that is directly coupled with said force cell, (f) electrically determining the magnitude of the force applied to the container when said preselected deflection is attained.

Claim 23

The method of measuring the resiliency of a container including the steps of: (a) positioning the container in an upright attitude, while supporting it by its base, so that the sidewall of the container is positioned between a hemispherically shaped force applying button and a bifurcated force reacting anvil, (b) applying a first small force normal to the axis of symmetry of said container to center the container between the force applying button and the arms of the force anvil, (c) applying a second force in the same direction as said first force to the container sidewall, (d) reacting said first and second forces with a force cell core attached to said anvil, (e) measuring a preselected deflection of the container with a linear variable differential transformer the core of which is directly coupled with the force cell core and in which the coil of the linear variable differential transformer is directly coupled with the force applying button, (f) electrically determining the magnitude of the force applied to the container when said preselected deflection is attained.

Claim 24

The method of measuring the resiliency of a container including the steps of: (a) positioning the container in an upright attitude, while supporting it by its base, so that the sidewall of the container is positioned between a hemispherically shaped force applying button and a bifurcated force reacting anvil, (b) applying a first small force normal to the axis of symmetry of said container to center the container between the force applying button and the arms of the force anvil, (c) applying a second force in the same direction as said first force to the container sidewall, (d) reacting said first and second forces with a force cell core attached to said anvil, (e) measuring a preselected deflection of the container with a linear variable differential transformer the core of which is directly coupled with the force cell core and in which the coil of the linear variable differential transformer is directly coupled with the force applying button, (f) electrically determining the magnitude of the force applied to the container when said preselected deflection is attained.

Claim 26

The method of measuring the resiliency of a paper or plastic cup including the steps of: (a) positioning the cup in an upright position on a cup support elevator while said elevator is in the down position, (b) moving said elevator to an up position so that the sidewall of the cup is positioned between a hemispherically shaped force applying button and a bifurcated force reacting anvil, (c) applying a first small force normal to the axis of symmetry of said cup center said cup between the force applying bottom and the arms of the force anvil, (d) applying a second force in the same direction as said first force to the cup sidewall, (e) reacting said first and second forces with a force cell core attached to said anvil, (f) measuring a preselected deflection of the cup with a linear variable differential transformer the core of which is directly coupled with the force cell core and in which the coil of the linear variable differential transformer is directly coupled with the force applying button, (g) electrically determining the magnitude of the force applied to the container when said preselected deflection is attained, (h) displaying visually the magnitude of said force.

Claim 27

The method of measuring the resiliency of a paper or plastic cup including the steps of: (a) positioning the cup in an upright position on a cup support elevator while said elevator is in the down position, (b) moving said elevator to an up position so that the sidewall of the cup is positioned between a hemispherically shaped force applying button and a bifurcated force reacting anvil, (c) applying a first small force normal to the axis of symmetry of said cup center said cup between the force applying bottom and the arms of the force anvil, (d) applying a second force in the same direction as said first force to the cup sidewall, (e) reacting said first and second forces with a force cell core attached to said anvil, (f) measuring a preselected deflection of the cup with a linear variable differential transformer the core of which is directly coupled with the force cell core and in which the coil of the linear variable differential transformer is directly coupled with the force applying button, (g) electrically determining the magnitude of the force applied to the container when said preselected deflection is attained, (h) displaying visually the magnitude of said force.