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US 11,919,723 B2Granted
System and method for automatedly detecting and rejecting cores having a non-conforming core color prior to covering
AssigneeMandi B. Milbank
InventorsJohn J. Fernandes, Jr., Edmund T. Maher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Automated system and method wherein the color of each core is detected and distinguished before the core is covered, and any core having a non-conforming core color is rejected and released/removed/eliminated from further processing.
Claims9
A system for detecting and rejecting cores having a non-conforming core color before the cores are covered, comprising:
- a transport track that is configured to transfer a plurality of cores from a first location toward a second location;
- a color differentiation device that is positioned proximate to or within the transport track and between the first location and second location;
- wherein the color differentiation device:
- (i) is configured to inspect core color of each core while progressing on the transport track from the first location toward the second location;
- and
- (ii) is programmed to differentiate between a conforming core color and a non-conforming core color while inspecting core color;
- and
- (iii) is configured and/or programmed to directly or indirectly notify the transport track which cores have the non-conforming core color;
- and
- wherein the transport track is configured and/or programmed to:
- (i) directly or indirectly receive notification from the color differentiation device as to which cores progressing on the transport track have the non-conforming core color;
- and
- (ii) reject/release/eliminate any core having the non-conforming core color from the transport track before that core reaches the second location;
- and
- (iii) progress each core having the conforming core color to the second locations;
- wherein each core is received from a heated storage box onto a support disposed on a first uplift conveyor of the transfer track and is transferred onto a horizontally extending conveyor of the transfer track;
- wherein the transfer track has at least two parallel pathways which alternatively receive and progress each core along the transport track between the first uplift conveyor and a second uplift conveyor located adjacent the second location;
- and
- wherein each pathway has a bridge that lowers to release a core having a non-conforming core color from progressing further on the pathway when the transport track is notified that a core having a non-conforming core color is detected.
16 more elements
A method of detecting and rejecting a core having a non-conforming core color before the core is covered, comprising the steps of:
- loading a core on a transport track at a first location thereof;
- progressing the core on the transport track from the first location toward a second location thereof;
- detecting the core's color and determining whether the core's color is a conforming core color or a non-conforming core color using a color differentiation device that is positioned proximate to or within the transport track while the core progresses between the first location and the second location;
- notifying the transport track before the core reaches the second location if the core has a non-conforming core color;
- wherein the transport track progresses the core to the second location for covering unless notified that the core has a non-conforming core color;
- and
- wherein the transport track rejects/releases/eliminates the core before it reaches the second location if the transport track is notified that the core has a non-conforming core color.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.