System for injecting fluid into spaced containers moving at variable speeds

A system for sampling and determining the presence of a substance in a container comprising:

• conveyor means for transporting a plurality of containers at variable speeds and spacings through an additive injection station and a test station;
• nozzle means for injecting a jet of an aqueous solution of a chemical additive into the container through an opening therein at the additive station to enhance liberation of vapors of the substance from the container;
• velocity detector means for sensing the speed of each container approaching the additive injection station;
• position sensor means responsive to the velocity detector means for determining the location of the opening of the container approaching the additive injection station;
• jet initiation means responsive to said position sensor means for turning on said nozzle means after a leading edge of the container opening is aligned with said nozzle means;
• jet termination means for turning off said nozzle means before a trailing edge of the container opening is aligned with said nozzle means;
• and
• means for analyzing a sample of the vapors liberated to determine the presence or absence of the substance in a container.

A system for sampling and determining the presence of a substance in a container comprising:

• conveyor means for transporting a plurality of containers at variable speeds and spacings through an additive injection station and a test station;
• nozzle means for injecting a jet of an aqueous solution of a chemical additive into the container through an opening therein at the additive station to enhance liberation of vapors of the substance, said aqueous solution being injected at a sufficient velocity to displace a substantial portion of vapors so liberated to a top region of said container;
• velocity detector means for sensing the speed of each container approaching the additive injection station;
• position sensor means responsive to the velocity detector means for determining the location of the opening of the container approaching the additive injection station;
• jet initiation means responsive to said position sensor means for turning on said nozzle means after a leading edge of the container opening is aligned with said nozzle means;
• jet termination means for turning off said nozzle means before a trailing edge of the container opening is aligned with said nozzle means;
• means for injecting an additional fluid through the opening at the test station to displace a portion of the vapors in the top region to regions outside of said container to form a sample cloud outside of the container adjacent the opening thereof;
• and
• means for analyzing a sample of the vapors in the sample cloud to determine the presence or absence of the substance in a container.