Method and apparatus for inspecting bottled goods
AssigneeTSN Company, Inc.
InventorsArthur F. Woodrow, Jorge E. Simmons
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically inspecting bottled goods for foreign matter as the bottles pass through bottling machinery. The inspection procedure ignores false indications of foreign matter by comparing results of a plurality of coincidentally performed inspections.
Claims13
A method for inspecting the contents of filled bottled goods and detecting the presence of foreign matter therein without affecting the translational speed of the bottled goods along a conveyer, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. translating a plurality of filled bottles along a conveyer;
- b. rotating each translating bottle and the contents thereof;
- c. stopping the rotation of each bottle abruptly enough to inspire relative rotation between the contents and the bottle while continuing the translational movement of the bottle along the conveyer;
- d. transmitting radiant energy from a stationary source through each bottle and the rotating contents thereof as the bottle continues its translational movement along the conveyer;
- e. producing a plurality of detection signals from stationary detector means in response to the radiant energy transmitted through each bottle and the contents thereof during translational movement of the bottle and its contents past the stationary detector means;
- f. generating a plurality of output signals responsive to the plurality of detection signals and indicative of the transmitted radiant energy intercepted by the bottle and the contents thereof;
- g. comparing the plurality of output signals with one another to provide a compared signal reflective of the coincidence of the detection signals;
- and
- h. determining the presence of foreign matter in each bottle from the compared signal.
Apparatus for inspecting bottled goods to detect the presence of foreign matter therein while the bottled goods move along a conveyer, said apparatus comprising in combination:
- a. a conveyer for movably translating a plurality of filled bottles;
- b. means for selectively rotating each bottle and the contents thereof as the bottle is translated by said conveyer;
- c. means for stopping the rotation of each bottle abruptly enough to inspire relative rotation between the contents and the bottle while continuing the translational movement of the bottle along said conveyer;
- d. stationary scanning means for transmitting radiant energy through each bottle and the rotating contents thereof as the bottle continues its translation along said conveyor past said scanning means;
- e. stationary detector means for producing a plurality of detection signals in response to the radiant energy transmitted through each bottle and the contents thereof during passage of the bottle and the contents thereof past said detector means;
- f. means for generating a plurality of output signals responsive to the plurality of detection signals and indicative of the transmitted radiant energy intercepted by the bottle and the contents thereof;
- g. means for comparing the plurality of output signals to one another to provide a compared signal reflective of the coincidence of the detection signals;
- and
- h. means responsive to said compared signal for determining the presence of foreign matter in each bottle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.