US4912554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrooptical packet control method
Assignee: GD SpA
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Filing: 1988-01-15
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Granted: 1990-03-27
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Expires: 2008-01-15
Abstract
Abstract An electrooptical packet control method, whereby parallelepiped packets are fed along a given route by two conveyors at least partially offset in relation to each other and cooperating with two opposite faces of the packets. Electrooptical pickup means located along the aforementioned route pick up a given number of faces on each packet as it travels along the first conveyor, and the remaining faces on the packet as it travels along the second conveyor. The resulting images are then compared with a reference image, the outcome of which comparison determines acceptance or rejection of each packet.
Inventors
- 👤 Armando Neri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:14
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/10; B65; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/20; B65G21/2027; B65G21/2036; G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/8806; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
An electrooptical packet control method comprising: successively feeding the packets (2) along first conveyor means (13) defining a first conveying surface arranged contacting a first portion of each packet (2); successively transferring the packets (2) on to second conveyor means (14) defining a second conveying surface arranged contacting a second portion of each said packet (2); performing, via electrooptical means (27, 28 or 41, 42), a first pickup of part of the outer surface of each packet (2) as the same travels along the first conveyor means (13), and a second pickup of the remaining part of the outer surface of each said packet (2) as the same travels along the second conveyor means (14); the first and second pickups being performed by transmitting to a single electrooptical telecamera means (26 or 40) a first and second image of each packet (2) viewed from two different angles; and comparing the images obtained in the two pickup operations by the electrooptical means (27, 28 or 41, 42) with reference images, so as to produce conformance signals for controlling a reject device (38).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
An electrooptical packet control method comprising: successively feeding the packets (2) along first conveyor means (13) defining a first conveying surface arranged contacting a first portion of each packet (2); successively transferring the packets (2) on to second conveyor means (14) defining a second conveying surface arranged contacting a second portion of each said packet (2); performing, via electrooptical means (27, 28 or 41, 42), a first pickup of part of the outer surface of each packet (2) as the same travels along the first conveyor means (13), and a second pickup of the remaining part of the outer surface of each said packet (2) as the same travels along the second conveyor means (14); the first and second pickups being performed by transmitting to a single electrooptical telecamera means (26 or 40) a first and second image of each packet (2) viewed from two different angles; and comparing the images obtained in the two pickup operations by the electrooptical means (27, 28 or 41, 42) with reference images, so as to produce conformance signals for controlling a reject device (38).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the two images are transmitted to the single electrooptical telecamera means (26 or 40) using at least one fiber bundle (29 or 43, 44).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the first and second pickups are performed by electrooptical telecamera means (26 or 40) designed to view the said packets (2) from two different angles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
182 words
An electrooptical packet control method comprising: successively feeding the packets (2) along first conveyor means (13) defining a first conveying surface arranged contacting a first portion of each packet (2); successively transferring the packets (2), without rotating the packets, onto second conveyor means (14) defining a second conveying surface arranged contacting a second portion of each packet (2); each of the first and second conveyor means having a laterally spaced apart surface with the surfaces being separated from each other a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a packet; performing, via electrooptical means (27, 28 or 41, 42), a first pickup of part of the outer surface of each packet (2) as the same travels along the first conveyor means (13), and a second pickup of the remaining part of the outer surface of each packet (2) as the same travels along the second conveyor means (14); and comparing the images obtained in the two pickup operations by the electrooptical means (27, 28 or 41, 42) with reference images, so as to produce conformance signals for controlling a reject device (38).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
An electrooptical packet control method comprising: successively feeding the packets (2) along first conveyor means (13) defining a first conveying surface arranged contacting a first portion of each packet (2); successively transferring the packets (2), without rotating the packets, onto second conveyor means (14) defining a second conveying surface arranged contacting a second portion of each packet (2); each of the first and second conveyor means having a laterally spaced apart surface with the surfaces being separated from each other a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a packet; performing, via electrooptical means (27, 28 or 41, 42), a first pickup of part of the outer surface of each packet (2) as the same travels along the first conveyor means (13), and a second pickup of the remaining part of the outer surface of each packet (2) as the same travels along the second conveyor means (14); and comparing the images obtained in the two pickup operations by the electrooptical means (27, 28 or 41, 42) with reference images, so as to produce conformance signals for controlling a reject device (38).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 4 in which the first and second conveyor means spaced apart surfaces overlap for a length substantially equal to the length of a packet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 4 in which: an input conveyor (10) is aligned to feed packets to the first conveyor means (13) without rotation of the packets; and the input conveyor has guide means (24) for guiding packets fed to the first conveyor means (13).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 6 in which: an output conveyor (21) is aligned to receive packets from the second conveyor means (14) without rotation of the packets; and the output conveyor has guide means (24) for guiding packets received from the second conveyor means (14).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 4 in which the surfaces of the first and second conveying means have suction means to releasably hold each packet in contact with the respective conveying means surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 4 in which the first and second pickups are performed by electrooptical telecamera means (26 or 40) designed to view the packets (2) from two different angles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 4 in which the first and second pickups are performed by transmitting to a single electrooptical telecamera means (26 or 40) a first and second image of each said packet (2) viewed from two different angles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 10 in which the two images are transmitted to the single electrooptical telecamera means (26 or 40) using at least one fiber bundle (29 or 43, 44).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-26 | 1993-09-25 | 1994-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-26 | 1997-09-25 | 1998-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-26 | 2001-09-25 | 2002-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |