Comprehensive container inspection system
US4915237A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 1986 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 11, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/1791
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A comprehensive container inspection system includes axial container examining features, side wall inspection features and a controllable diverter for routing the containers to one of at least two sorting paths. Each stage of the inspection system is adapted to process moving containers, a continuous line of moving containers being processed and controllably diverted without stoppages. In an axial inspection area, containers are carried through rim, energy absorption and base inspection areas by means of side rollers bridging a gap in endless belt conveyor sections. In a side wall inspection area, containers are continuously rolled before a video detector operable to record and analyze images including at least three of the rolling bottles. A downstream mechanical diverter device includes a picker element operable to stop a container ahead of a container to be diverted, and means for positioning the diverted container to be squeezed into a diversion path between the stopped container and a next container, the next container advancing continuously through the diversion process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.