Apparatus and process for ultrasonically identifying and coating articles having differing characteristics

An apparatus utilizing ultrasonic identifying and control means, for coating articles having differing dimensional characteristics comprising:

• (a) means for moving a series of said articles past a predetermined point;
• (b) means for detecting the presence of each article when it reaches said point, and activating a means for identifying the dimensional characteristics of the article;
• (c) means operably connected to said detecting means for generating and impinging ultrasonic waves on each article when it is present at said predetermined point, to obtain reflected wave patterns from said article, thereby to identify its dimensional characteristics;
• (d) means for identifying each of a series of articles moved past the predetermined point, said means including a data base containing code-number-identified wave patterns corresponding to those produced by said articles;
• (e) said means of subparagraph (d) further including means for electronically comparing and matching the reflected wave patterns from each article as it reaches said predetermined point with similar wave patterns in the data base and selecting a predetermined control sequence program for operating a means for coating the articles, said control sequence program selected being identified by a code number;
• (f) a numerically controlled, pre-programmed coating means located at said work station and adapted to respond to code numbers electronically transmitted thereto and to apply coating to each article in accordance with its dimensional characteristics;
• and
• (g) means for electronically transmitting the identifying code numbers to the coating means.