Fluid inspection apparatus with vibrator
AssigneeM. W. Technologies, Inc.
InventorPeter J. Dragotta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is provided for optically inspecting containers of liquid solutions. The apparatus includes a fixture for gripping the container and a conveyor or indexable table for moving the fixtured container into alignment with a camera or other optical inspection device. The apparatus further includes a vibrator at the inspection station. The vibrator causes the container of the liquid solution to vibrate sufficiently for extraneous material in the solution to move into a position that permits accurate visual inspection.
Claims9
An apparatus for optical inspection of liquid solutions and for identifying extraneous materials in such solutions, said apparatus comprising:
- an inspection station having at least one optical inspection means for optically inspecting containers of liquid solution in said inspection station;
- an indexable fixture for securely gripping at least one container of the liquid solution;
- means for selectively moving the indexable fixture into the inspection station;
- and
- a vibrator for vibrating the container in the inspection station sufficiently to move extraneous material in the liquid solution, thereby facilitating optical inspections to identify the extraneous material.
An apparatus for optical inspection of liquid solutions and for identifying extraneous materials in such solutions, said apparatus comprising:
- an inspection station having at least one light source;
- an indexable fixture for securely gripping at least one container of the liquid solution;
- a vibrator for vibrating the fixture sufficiently to move extraneous material in the liquid solution in the container;
- and
- means for selectively moving the indexable fixture into the inspection station and into alignment with the light source, thereby enabling visual inspections to identify the extraneous material moving in the liquid solution illuminated by the light source.
An inspection method comprising:
- providing a plurality of substantially transparent containers, each said container having a liquid solution therein;
- placing the containers in a selected orientation in a fixture;
- vibrating the fixture sufficiently to cause any extraneous material in the liquid solution to move;
- terminating the vibrating of the fixture;
- illuminating the containers in the fixture;
- identifying containers having extraneous material suspended in the liquid solution;
- and
- separating any of the containers that are identified to have the extraneous material therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.