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US 4,644,151 AGranted
Identification of a molded container with its mold of origin
AssigneeOwens-Illinois, Inc.
InventorJohn W. Juvinall
Life of this patent
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AssigneeOwens-Illinois, Inc.
InventorJohn W. Juvinall
Estimating the term…
A method and system for identifying a molded container such as a glass bottle with its mold of origin, and a corresponding container. Each container has molded therein a plurality of indicia in the form of surface bumps or protrusions extending in an arcuate array at uniformly spaced indicia positions around the container heel perpendicularly of the container axis. The indicia are grouped in sets of two adjacent indicia positions, the sets being of two mutually unique configurations, whereby the sets as a whole identify a binary code associated with the container mold of origin. The method and system for reading such code in accordance with the disclosure contemplate directing a source of diffused light energy onto the container heel, with such energy having an intensity gradient at predetermined orientation with respect to the container axis. A camera is positioned to receive light energy reflected by the heel and is monitored to read the coded indicia as a function of alternation of the normal reflection pattern by the bumps or protrusions.
A molded container having a body and a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough, said body being formed in a mold and having a sidewall, a bottom load-bearing surface, a heel portion of the sidewall contiguous with the bottom, and integral indicia for identifying the mold in which the said container was formed, said integral indicia comprising a plurality of generally radially oriented surface irregularities extending in an array generally perpendicular to the central axis at a series of circumferential positions on the heel, said circumferential positions being uniformly spaced from each other along said heel and disposed in sets of two circumferentially adjacent positions, there being at least one of said irregularities in each of said sets of two circumferentially adjacent positions, said sets being in mutually unique pairs of adjacent circumferential positions, each of said sets being readable as a unique bit of binary information which depends upon the positional sequence of said irregularities within said set, and said sets collectively identifying the mold in which said container was formed.
A method of identifying a molded container having side and end walls and a central axis with a mold of origin comprising the steps of:
A method of reading a code indicative of mold of origin on a molded container which includes side and end walls, and a heel on said side wall at the junction of said side and end walls, said code comprising a plurality of discrete protrusions extending in a lineal array along said heel, said method comprising the steps of:
A system for reading a code on a molded container indicative of mold of origin, said container comprising side and end walls, a container axis, and a container heel at the junction of said side and end walls, said code comprising a plurality of discrete protrusions projecting outwardly of said side wall at said heel and extending in a lineal array along said heel, said system comprising
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.