US4733381A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic level sensing system
Assignee: Lancer Partnership Ltd
•
Filing: 1985-05-20
•
Granted: 1988-03-22
•
Expires: 2005-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A receptacle counting system includes an ultrasonic sound wave transducer for emitting ultrasonic sound waves and for receiving ultrasonic sound waves reflected from a receptacle whose contact level is to be sensed. There is a rim detector, responsive to the reflected ultrasonic sound waves, for determining the location of the rim of the receptacle and a receptacle detector, responsive to the rim detector, for indicating when a receptacle is present. One or more counters, responsive to the receptacle detector, are provided for monitoring the number of receptacles presented to the system.
Inventors
- 👤 M. Zane Farmer
- 👤 Diane B. Farmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:29
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/08; B67D1/12; B67D1/1202; B67D1/1234; B67D1/1238
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A receptacle counting system comprising: ultrasonic sound wave transducer means for emitting ultrasonic sound waves and for receiving ultrasonic sound waves reflected from a receptacle whose content level is to be sensed; a rim detector, responsive to said reflected ultrasonic sound waves, for determining the location of the rim of the receptacle; a receptacle detector, responsive to said rim detector, for indicating when a receptacle is present; and means responsive to the receptacle detector, for monitoring the number of receptacles presented to the system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A receptacle counting system comprising: ultrasonic sound wave transducer means for emitting ultrasonic sound waves and for receiving ultrasonic sound waves reflected from a receptacle whose content level is to be sensed; a rim detector, responsive to said reflected ultrasonic sound waves, for determining the location of the rim of the receptacle; a receptacle detector, responsive to said rim detector, for indicating when a receptacle is present; and means responsive to the receptacle detector, for monitoring the number of receptacles presented to the system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The receptacle counting system of claim 1 in which said transducer means includes a transducer and means for providing a burst of ultrasonic signal to said transducer and in which said rim detector includes a rim detector circuit and a rim counter, said rim counter being enabled to count coincident with said burst of ultrasonic signal and disabled by said rim detector circuit upon determination of the rim's location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The receptacle counting system of claim 2 in which said monitoring means includes a decoder circuit, responsive to said rim counter and said receptacle detector, for indicating the size of the receptacle present.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The receptacle counting system of claim 3 in which said mounting means includes means responsive to said decoder circuit for counting the number of receptacles of each size indicating by said decoder circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
A receptacle counting system comprising: ultrasonic sound wave transducer means for emitting ultrasonic sound waves and for receiving ultrasonic sound waves reflected from a receptacle whose content level is to be sensed; a rim detector, responsive to said reflected ultrasonic sound waves, for determining the location of the rim of the receptacle by sensing reflected ultrasonic sound waves having a signal level greater than a reference level; a receptacle detector, responsive to said rim detector, for indicating when the receptacle is present; and means, responsive to the receptacle detector, for monitoring the number of receptacles presented to the system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
A receptacle counting system comprising: ultrasonic sound wave transducer means for emitting ultrasonic sound waves and for receiving ultrasonic sound waves reflected from a receptacle whose content level is to be sensed; a rim detector, responsive to said reflected ultrasonic sound waves, for determining the location of the rim of the receptacle by sensing reflected ultrasonic sound waves having a signal level greater than a reference level; a receptacle detector, responsive to said rim detector, for indicating when the receptacle is present; and means, responsive to the receptacle detector, for monitoring the number of receptacles presented to the system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3431550A
Cited
US4202387A
Cited
US4236553A
Cited
US4440200A
Cited
US4437497A
Cited
US4559979A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-22 | 1991-09-21 | 1992-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-22 | 1995-09-21 | 1996-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-22 | 1999-09-21 | 2000-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |