Full container recognition system

A full container recognition system for determining when a container having an upwardly facing opening for loading articles into the container is filled to a predetermined level, comprising:

• (a) an outer support ring;
• and
• (b) a plurality of substantially identical feeler arms, each having inner and outer ends, the feeler arms being rotatably mounted in spaced-apart relationship with one another about the circumference of the outer support ring, the feeler arms being rotatable downwardly about the outer support ring from a first position in which the outer end of at least one feeler arm extends above the opening in the container;
• and
• (c) means for urging each feeler arm to return to the first position when that feeler arm is impacted and deflected downwardly by an article that is traveling downwardly into the opening of the container, the article causing the arm to rotate downwardly from the first position and the urging means causing a deflected feeler arm to return to the first position when the article passes downwardly beyond the outer end of said deflected feeler arm, the urging means allowing said deflected feeler arm to remain rotated downwardly when the article does not pass downwardly beyond the outer end of said deflected feeler arm.

A method for determining when a container, having a generally upwardly facing opening, is filled with articles to a predetermined level, comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a feeler arm having an outer end in a position in which the outer end of the feeler arm extends over the opening in a first position;
• (b) repeatedly loading articles into the container along a path that causes the articles to contact the outer end of the feeler arm and deflect the feeler arm downwardly as the articles enter into the container;
• (c) biasing the feeler arm to return to the first position after being deflected downwardly by an article that passes downwardly beyond the feeler arm;
• (d) detecting when the feeler arm remains downwardly deflected from the first position for a period of time greater than a predetermined period, thereby indicating that the container is filled to approximately the predetermined level;
• and
• (e) ceasing to load articles into the container when the feeler arm has remained deflected downwardly from the first position for a period of time greater than the predetermined period.