Detection of turbid or foaming contaminants in containers
AssigneeThermedics Detection Inc.
InventorsEugene K. Achter, David Lieb, John S. Beaty, Helmut W. Klotzsch, Craig D. Thompson, Jonathan Bosworth
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Abstract
To detect a contaminant in a moving container, radiant energy is directed into the moving container. Thereafter, a level of radiant energy scattered by contents of the moving container is detected. The presence of a contaminant is indicated when the detected level of scattered radiant energy differs from a threshold level. Scattered radiant energy detected by the system includes that scattered by turbid materials within the container and that scattered by foam within the container. Detection of turbid materials or foam may be combined with spectral contaminant detection.
Claims27
A method of detecting a contaminant in a moving container, comprising:
- directing radiant energy into an open top of the moving container,
- electronically detecting a level of radiant energy scattered through a side of the moving container near a bottom of the moving container by contents of the moving container, and
- indicating the presence of a contaminant when the detected level of scattered radiant energy differs from a threshold level.
A method of detecting a contaminant in a moving container, comprising:
- storing reference spectral information related to at least one container having known contents,
- directing modulated radiant energy having a narrow range of wavelengths into the moving container through an open top of the container,
- detecting a level of modulated radiant energy scattered through a side of the moving container near a bottom of the moving container by turbid liquid within the moving container,
- directing wideband radiant energy having a wide range of wavelengths at the moving container so that the wideband radiant energy is modified by contents of the moving container to produce modified wideband radiant energy,
- detecting a portion of the modified wideband radiant energy,
- obtaining spectral information from the detected portion of modified wideband radiant energy,
- comparing the spectral information obtained from the detected portion of modified wideband radiant energy with the reference spectral information using correlation techniques, and
- indicating the presence of a contaminant when the detected level of scattered modulated radiant energy differs from a threshold level or based on the relationship between the spectral information obtained from the detected portion of modified wideband radiant energy and the reference spectral information.
A contaminant detection system comprising:
- a radiant energy source for directing radiant energy into a moving container, and configured to direct the radiant energy through an open top of the moving container,
- a detector for detecting a level of radiant energy scattered through a side of the moving container near a bottom of the moving container by contents of the moving container, and
- a processor for indicating the presence of a contaminant when the detected level of scattered radiant energy differs from a threshold level.
For use with a container inspection system having a conveyor for moving containers and a liquid supplier for adding uncontaminated liquid to each container, a contaminant detector to be mounted near said conveyor at a location downstream of the liquid supplier, said contaminant detector comprising:
- a radiant energy source for directing radiant energy into an open top of a moving container,
- a first detector for detecting a level of radiant energy scattered by contents of the moving container through a side of the moving container near a bottom of the moving container, and
- a processor for indicating the presence of a contaminant when the detected level of scattered radiant energy differs from a threshold level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.