Inspection of translucent containers
US5466927A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/9009
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus for inspecting the bottom of a container that includes a light sensor positioned to view the container bottom through the open container mouth, a light source positioned externally of the container on the opposite side of the container bottom, and electronics for detecting commercial variations in the container bottom as a function of light energy incident on the sensor. The light source, as viewed by the sensor through the container bottom, is characterized by being elongated radially of the container bottom and narrow transversely of the container bottom. In this way, any variations in the container bottom that refract the line of sight of the sensor in the radial direction, such as mold code rings and baffle scars, are essentially transparent as viewed by the sensor. On the other hand, variations that refract the sensor line of sight laterally of the container bottom, such as glass particles, knots and lumps, produce a dark image at the sensor since the sensor cannot see the light source through the variation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.