Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for differentiating between polymer coated glass containers and uncoated containers

US4017194A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 22, 1975
Grant dateApr 12, 1977
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 22, 1995

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB07C5/3408
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Glass containers coated with a transparent polymer film, co-mingled with similar but non-coated containers, are identified without contact as they are moving on a conveyor. An optical position sensor triggers a stroboscope to emit a pulse of light that is directed to pass through the container. A light receptor essentially receives only that strobe light which has passed through the center of the container; light passing tangentially through the side of the container is blocked from the receptor. The light is filtered so that the receptor receives substantially only light in a wavelength range which will be attenuated by the polymer coating. Circuitry discriminates between the greater intensity of received light which has passed through an uncoated container and the lesser intensity of light through a coated container. Containers of the one type may be segregated from those of the other type by reject or sorting apparatus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.