# US 10,309,917 B2 · Cap inspection and manufacture

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- Number: US 10,309,917 B2
- Document ID: US10309917B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/198,136
- Filed: 2018-11-21
- Published: 2019-04-11
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-07
- Assignees: Mmc Packaging Equipment Ltd
- Applicants: Mmc Packaging Equipment Ltd
- Inventors: Yannick Asselin; Marcel Bélanger; Yves Lemelin; Charles St-Hilaire
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309917B2

## CPC

- G01N 27/205: {in insulating materials}
- B07C 5/34: Sorting according to other particular properties {(material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14)}
- B07C 5/344: according to electric or electromagnetic properties {(sorting according to size measured electrically or electronically B07C5/08; material testing by magnetic means G01N24/00, G01N27/00, by electrical means G01N27/00; electrical measuring devices in general G01R; coin testing G07D5/00)}
- B07C 5/365: {using a single separation means}
- G01M 3/40: by using electric means, e.g. by observing electric discharges
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An inspection apparatus for testing of objects synchronizes a spark test wheel having probe fingers with a transportation unit on which spaced objects to be spark tested are placed. The probe fingers are arranged conically when the transportation unit is a turret.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inspection apparatus for testing of objects having a cavity defined by a sidewall and bottom wall, the apparatus comprising:
a supply conveyor providing at least one single-file line of objects in contact with each other;
an object receiver arranged to receive said single-file line of objects from said supply conveyor and provide spacing of said objects;
a transportation unit associated with said receiver for conveying said objects spaced by said receiver;
a spark test wheel having probe fingers rotatably mounted over said transportation unit;
at least one opposed spark test electrode associated with said transportation unit; and
a synchronized drive for driving said object receiver, said transportation unit and said spark test wheel so that said probe fingers of said spark test wheel can rotate into the cavity of said objects without contacting the sidewall of said objects while contacting and pressing said bottom wall from inside said cavity against said opposed spark test electrode contacting said bottom wall from an outside of said cavity to perform a spark test of said objects.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising a star wheel assembly having an inlet slot that provides said object receiver and a portion of its circular conveyance path that provides said transportation unit, wherein said spark test wheel comprises a frustroconical arrangement of probe fingers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said spark test wheel is driven by an electrically insulating mechanical coupling.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising at least one further pocket wheel coupled with said star wheel for extending said transportation unit for providing either space for additional processing or testing of said objects or for providing a desired outlet direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said synchronized drive comprises a single motor drive with at least one gearing for driving said object receiver, said transportation unit and said spark test wheel in synchronization.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said object receiver is at least one worm drive or at least one cleated belt arranged to receive and to fix a position and spacing of said objects on said transportation unit, said transportation unit being a linear conveyor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said transportation unit comprises a vacuum belt.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a spacing between said objects provided by said object receiver on said transportation unit is at least as great as a length of said objects, preferably at least two times as great as a length of said objects.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a reject unit associated with either said transportation unit or a downstream outbound conveyor for rejecting ones of said objects having failed a spark test.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said reject unit is configured to eject from either said transportation unit or said downstream outbound conveyor a single one of said objects having failed a spark test.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said reject unit is configured to detect the passage of said objects.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said reject unit is configured to confirm that the single one of said objects having failed its spark test is accurately ejected from either said transportation unit or said downstream outbound conveyor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said reject unit comprises at least one controllable fluid jet for propelling said objects from either said transportation unit or said downstream outbound conveyor into a recycle path.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a spark test circuit connected to said spark test wheel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising a controller connected to said synchronized drive and said spark test circuit for generating a signal when one of said objects fails a spark test conducted using said spark test wheel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said objects comprise plastic caps and said probe fingers of said spark test wheel are arranged to rotate in and out of a cavity of said caps without contacting a side wall of said caps.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said synchronized drive operates to inspect said caps at a rate greater than 2000 caps per minute.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A method of manufacturing a product, the method comprising:
providing an inspection apparatus as defined in claim 1;
providing plastic objects to be tested that are to form part or all of said product;
using said spark test wheel to perform a spark test on said objects;
rejecting ones of said objects having failed said spark test;
using a remainder of said objects for said product.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method as defined in claim 18, wherein said product is plastic container caps.