Method and apparatus for detecting misapplied caps on containers
US6237418A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V3/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Method and apparatus by which misshapen crown caps on beverage containers, such as bottles traveling along high-speed bottling lines, may be detected. Bottles are arranged to travel directly beneath a magnetic proximity sensor head placed at a station along a conveyor. A photodetector indicates when a crown cap is properly positioned with respect to the magnetic proximity sensor. In the presence of a crown cap, the sensor head generates a signal having characteristic shapes indicative of properly shaped caps or those that are misshapen. The signal is monitored via algorithms for the presence of the characteristic shapes anticipated for properly shaped and misshapen crown caps and commands are generated in response to detecting reject crown caps. The signal may also be used to detect distorted bottles and to provide height information to a pressure detection station used in conjunction with the crown detector to enhance the rate of detection for poorly sealed bottles having otherwise properly shaped crown caps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.