US3618762A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container-inspecting machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-02-20
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Granted: 1971-11-09
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Expires: 1989-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A machine and method for inspecting and sorting containers, such as glass bottles, that are acceptable from those not acceptable because of defects in the lip or shortness of the containers. A rotating test head has feelers thereon which are other than 180* apart and which can move relative to each other in a direction of the axis of the containers to actuate differential transformer means. The rotating testing head is employed to actuate a control circuit for ejecting a container if it is too short or if the lip does not fall within predetermined limits.
Inventors
- 👤 David F Sklar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:49
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/12; B07C5/122; B07C5/124; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/934
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
In a container inspection apparatus, the combination including inspection station container-positioning means, a rotatable inspection head having angularly spaced feelers thereon, means for moving a container relative to said inspection means so that said feelers will contact the lip of the container, one of said feelers having electric coil means and the other of said feelers having an armature means movable relative to said coil whereby movement of said feelers relative to each other provides a signal in accordance with the relative position of said feelers to each other so as to indicate the condition of said lip, said feelers providing a null signal when the lip is acceptable and an error signal when not acceptable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a container inspection apparatus, the combination including inspection station container-positioning means, a rotatable inspection head having angularly spaced feelers thereon, means for moving a container relative to said inspection means so that said feelers will contact the lip of the container, one of said feelers having electric coil means and the other of said feelers having an armature means movable relative to said coil whereby movement of said feelers relative to each other provides a signal in accordance with the relative position of said feelers to each other so as to indicate the condition of said lip, said feelers providing a null signal when the lip is acceptable and an error signal when not acceptable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said feelers are elongated and are disposed In a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation of said head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein there is a clamp means for holding a container under said head as it is lowered, so that said feelers rotate around the lip of the container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said container includes a plurality of gate means to control movement of said containers toward said inspection station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said gate means are carried by oscillatable shaft means, said gate means being adjustable longitudinally of said shaft means so as to accommodate various sizes of containers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein there is a clamp means which has adjustable clamps thereon for accommodating various size and shape containers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the gate means are supported on two shafts and are adjustably movable therealong according to the container size and wherein there are connections between said shafts so that said shaft will move the gates in and out so that containers can controllably move to the testing station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said rotatable head has arm means associated therewith to produce a signal if the container is shorter than a predetermined dimension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein there is a clamp means operable as a container is located adjacent thereto to hold a container under said rotatable head, and means to lower said head toward the container so that said feelers will contact the lip thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the clamp means has cam means thereon for straightening the container position as it is moved into clamping position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein there is means responsive to a signal to permit movement of a container in one path if it is not acceptable and another path is it is acceptable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein there are adjustable guides along the path of the containers being moved toward the inspection station so as to accommodate various size containers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-08 | 1975-05-10 | 1975-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-08 | 1979-05-10 | 1979-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-08 | 1983-05-10 | 1983-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |