# US 6,365,906 B1 · Method and apparatus for detecting and ejecting misaligned containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,365,906 B1 - Document ID: US6365906B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/359,431 - Filed: 1999-07-22 - Granted: 2002-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 1999-07-22 - Assignees: Ambec - Inventors: Thomas Spangenberg; Thomas Lamb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6365906B1 ## CPC - B65G 47/256: removing incorrectly orientated articles - B65G 2201/0244: Bottles - B65G 2203/044: Optical - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract The invention is directed to an apparatus for detecting and ejecting fallen containers on a conveyor line. The detecting apparatus includes at least three sensors arranged beside the conveyor system. Two of the sensors are positioned to detect the top of a container and a third sensor is positioned to detect the bottom of the container. When a container is judged to be fallen on the conveyor line, a control system sends a signal to an ejector apparatus to remove the fallen container from the conveyor line. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for detecting and ejecting down containers on a conveyor comprising: at least three sensors arranged beside said conveyor wherein at least two of said sensors are positioned to detect the tops of said containers and at least one of said sensors is positioned to detect the bottoms of said containers when said containers are in an upright position; a control system for determining whether said containers are down based on signals generated from said sensors; and an ejector to remove any fallen containers, said ejector being actuated by a signal from said control system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensors are optical sensors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said sensors are fiber optic sensors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said sensors comprise a radiant light source and a photocell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensors are sonic sensors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensors are pressure sensors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ejector comprises an air nozzle directed toward said conveyor, said air nozzle being adapted to direct a jet of air toward a container on said conveyor to blow said container off said conveyor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ejector comprises an arm, said arm being extendable transversely to said conveyor so as to push said container off said conveyor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said arm is moveably connected to a pneumatic cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said arm is moveable connected to a hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said arm is actuated by an electromagnet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a conveyor system adapted to move a plurality of containers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said containers are bottles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said containers are boxes. ### Claim 15 A method for removing down containers on a conveyor line comprising the steps of: moving a plurality of containers on a conveyor line, each of said containers having a top and a bottom; detecting the presence or absence of the tops of said containers with at least two sensors; detecting the bottoms of said containers with at least one sensor; determining whether a container is in an upright or fallen position based on signals output from said sensors; and removing any fallen containers based on said determination. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein said sensors are optical sensors. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein said sensors are fiber optic sensors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein said sensors comprise a radiant light source and a photocell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein said sensors are sonic sensors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein said sensors are pressure sensors. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein said fallen containers are removed by an ejector and said ejector comprises an air nozzle directed toward said conveyor said air nozzle directing a jet of air toward a container on said conveyor to blow said container off said conveyor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein said fallen containers are removed by an ejector and said ejector comprises an arm, said method further comprising extending said arm transversely to said conveyor to push said container off said conveyor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 wherein said arm is moveably connected to a pneumatic cylinder. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 wherein said arm is moveable connected to a hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21 wherein said arm is actuated by an electromagnet. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein said containers are bottles. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein said containers are boxes. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein said determination of whether a container is in an upright or fallen position is made without reference to time delay. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensors detect the presence or absence of a container and said control system makes said determination without reference to time delay.