US 10,375,904 B2 · Emitter locating system and related methods

Abstract

Various systems, methods and apparatus for locating emitters embedded in tubing are disclosed herein, as well as forming outlets in said tubing and confirming the placement accuracy of such outlets. In one form, an emitter locator is disclosed having: a housing defining a generally enclosed space and having an inlet located in a first side of the housing and an outlet located in a second side of the housing positioned opposite the inlet; a cutter positioned within the generally enclosed space between the inlet and outlet; a first optical instrument located proximate the inlet; a second optical instrument located proximate the outlet; and a controller connected to the cutter and first and second optical instruments, the controller configured to detect a tubing target area desired for placement of an outlet opening in tubing that passes through the inlet and cut the tubing target area to form the outlet opening therein.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An emitter locator for detecting the presence of an emitter embedded inside tubing, the locator comprising:

a housing defining a generally enclosed space and defining an inlet and an outlet;
a cutter positioned at least partially within the generally enclosed space;
a first optical instrument located proximate the inlet;
and
a controller in communication with the cutter and first optical instrument, the controller configured to detect a tubing target area desired for placement of an outlet opening in tubing that passes through the inlet and cut the tubing target area to form the outlet opening therein before the tubing exits the outlet of the housing.

2 more elements

An irrigation drip line manufacturing or production line comprising:

a feeder for feeding discrete emitters into the production line;
a conveyor coupled on a first end to the feeder for conveying the discrete emitters through the production line;
an emitter insertion mechanism coupled to a second end of the conveyor for inserting the discrete emitters through an extruder and into newly extruded tubing to bond the emitters to the newly extruded tubing;
an extruder position proximate the emitter insertion mechanism and configured to extrude the extruded tubing in a desired wall thickness;
a water tank positioned downstream of the extruder for sizing and/or cooling the extruded tubing;
an emitter locator and outlet cutting assembly positioned downstream of the water tank and configured to locate the discrete emitters and cut outlet openings in the extruded tube proximate outlets of the discrete emitters;
and
a coiler positioned downstream of the emitter locator and configured to coil the extruded tube into coils of tubing;
wherein the emitter locator and outlet cutting assembly includes a first optical instrument and a controller configured to use the first optical instrument to locate the emitters bonded inside of the extruded tubing and identify a tubing outlet target area desired for placement of an outlet opening in the extruded tubing.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Emitter locating system and related methods

Life of this patent

Emitter locating system and related methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30