Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An inspection machine for plastic bottles, having a turn-table which is rotatable about a vertical axis and which has a plurality of stations to receive the bottles to be inspected, having sensor devices each consisting of a sensor and a mark to be sensed thereby and for producing corresponding output signals, and having evaluation electronics for processing the output signals, characterized in that (a) each station (26) comprises a plate (22) on which the bottle (10) is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis thereof, and (b) all the sensors (21, 21', 92, 94) and the evaluation electronics (34) are secured to the turn-table (12) and rotate jointly therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An inspection machine for plastic bottles, having a turn-table which is rotatable about a vertical axis and which has a plurality of stations to receive the bottles to be inspected, having sensor devices each consisting of a sensor and a mark to be sensed thereby and for producing corresponding output signals, and having evaluation electronics for processing the output signals, characterized in that (a) each station (26) comprises a plate (22) on which the bottle (10) is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis thereof, and (b) all the sensors (21, 21', 92, 94) and the evaluation electronics (34) are secured to the turn-table (12) and rotate jointly therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An inspection machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (22) is secured to a ball-and-socket joint (22) and that the bottle (10) can be gripped on the plate (22) by a head (68) which is secured to a vertically displaceable carriage (8) for free rotation on a further ball-and-socket joint (62').
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
An inspection machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, associated with each station (26) in order to detect the parameters "perpendicularity of the bottom and perpendicularity of the neck and mouth of the bottle to the bottle axis" are two sensor devices (21, 64, 21', 64'), each of which comprises a proximity sensor (21, 21') and that associated with each proximity sensor (21,21') as a mark is a flange (64, 64') which is movable along the bottom axis and is biased in the direction of one end of the bottle by a spring and which can be urged in the direction of the proximity sensor (21, 21') by reason of the plate (22) and the head (68) wobbling in the absence of perpendicularity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
An inspection machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, associated with each station (26) in order to detect the parameter "volume and pressure-tightness" is a device (90) by means of which, controlled by the rotation of the turn-table, pressure can be applied the interior of the bottle (10) through the head (68), which pressure which can be detected by a pressure sensor (92) disposed on the head (68).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
An inspection machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the pressure applying device (90) comprises a piston (94) which is disposed in a cylinder (93) and a piston rod (95) of which can be actuated by a cam plate (88) secured to the machine frame as a result of which, a certain volume of air can be forced out of a cylinder compartment (93a), in front of the piston (94) and connected to the pressure sensor (92), into the bottle (10).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An inspection machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, in order to detect the parameter "height of bottle", each carriage (80) carries as a mark, a formation (97), the vertical position of which can be detected by a stationary sensor (98) common to all the stations (26).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
An inspection machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, in order to detect the parameter "bottle code", each station (26) comprises a sensor device in the form of an optoelectrical sensor (94) to detect a bottle code marking (103) provided on the bottle (10).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An inspection machine according to claim 7, characterized in that each station (26) comprises an air nozzle (96) to blow on the bottle (10) in the region of the bottle code marking.