Method of inspecting the dimensional accuracy of medical ampuls

US5331174A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Schott Glaswerke · DE

Inventors

• Hans-Ulrich Dassler · Oberschleißheim, DE
• Rudiger Haas · Altenkirchen, DE
• Johann LANG · Schierling, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 5, 1993
• Grant date: Jul 19, 1994
• Expiry date: Feb 5, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N21/9036
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

To automatically examine medical ampuls to determine their dimensional accuracy, the ampuls are moved in a horizontal position on a chain conveyor in a cadenced manner through an optoelectronic testing station. At the testing station, each ampul is lifted out of the chain conveyor and illuminated by light from a diffusely radiating illumination source perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the ampul. In the case of one-point-cut ampuls, the ampuls are rotated about their longitudinal axes during the testing process. The light passing through the ampul is received by a photodiode camera system which converts the images into electrical image signals. These image signals are evaluated with respect to their changes in intensity produced by the tested ampul in order to generate measurement values for the desired ampul dimensions and, if applicable, for their deviations from standard ampul dimensions.