Patent US3789983A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3789983A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal cap sorter
Assignee: Anchor Hocking Packaging Co
•
Filing: 1971-09-16
•
Granted: 1974-02-05
•
Expires: 1991-09-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for sorting foreign closures from a stream of closures being fed into a capping machine. A light source is positioned at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal plane defined by the top panel of a metal closure. A light sensing unit is positioned at an angle with respect to the horizontal plane less than the angle of spectral reflection of the light from the light source. It has been found that each of a plurality of metal closures has unique light-scattering properties which may be measured by the light sensing unit positioned off of the angle of reflection of the light source. By introducing a plurality of closures into the light beam, a level may be established for each of the closures. By setting an electronic logic unit sensitive to the scattered light level of a particular desired closure, foreign closures which fall above or below this preset level may be rejected by a rejection mechanism. The rejection mechanism most frequently takes the form of a puff of compressed air to blow foreign closures from a line of closures being fed into a capping machine. The apparatus further includes a series of filters positioned over the light source to reduce the amount of light to an intensity level to which the light sensing unit is responsive.
Inventors
- 👤 A Senesky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/342; B07C5/36; B07C5/363; B07C5/365; G01N21/90; G01N21/909; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/928
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A method of sorting metal closures having a painted upper surface comprising the steps of: a. moving a series of unlike closures one at a time past a fixed point; b. illuminating the top panel of said unlike closures one-at-atime with a light source positioned at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the top panel of said closures; c. positioning a light sensing unit to receive light scattered by said closure at an aCute angle with respect to said horizontal plane less than the angle of spectral reflection of the light from said light source; d. blocking all radiation above 7500 Angstroms from entry into said light sensing unit; e. measuring the response of said sensing unit to light scattered by each of said unlike closures; f. ceasing the movement of said unlike closures; g. connecting said light sensing unit to an electronic logic and discrimination means; h. setting said electronic logic and discrimination means to produce an output in response to light level signals from said light sensing unit above and below the measured signal produced by a specific one of said unlike closures; i. connecting a rejection means responsive to an output from said logic and discrimination means to said logic and discrimination means; j. feeding a plurality of said specific closures past said light source and said light sensing unit to present scattered light signals to said logic and discrimination means; k. rejecting all closures which pass said light source and light sensing unit whose scattered light level falls above and below the signal level set in said logic and discrimination means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
270 words
A method of sorting metal closures having a painted upper surface comprising the steps of: a. moving a series of unlike closures one at a time past a fixed point; b. illuminating the top panel of said unlike closures one-at-atime with a light source positioned at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the top panel of said closures; c. positioning a light sensing unit to receive light scattered by said closure at an aCute angle with respect to said horizontal plane less than the angle of spectral reflection of the light from said light source; d. blocking all radiation above 7500 Angstroms from entry into said light sensing unit; e. measuring the response of said sensing unit to light scattered by each of said unlike closures; f. ceasing the movement of said unlike closures; g. connecting said light sensing unit to an electronic logic and discrimination means; h. setting said electronic logic and discrimination means to produce an output in response to light level signals from said light sensing unit above and below the measured signal produced by a specific one of said unlike closures; i. connecting a rejection means responsive to an output from said logic and discrimination means to said logic and discrimination means; j. feeding a plurality of said specific closures past said light source and said light sensing unit to present scattered light signals to said logic and discrimination means; k. rejecting all closures which pass said light source and light sensing unit whose scattered light level falls above and below the signal level set in said logic and discrimination means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for sorting metal closures having painted top panels comprising, in combination: means for conveying a plurality of closures in single file; a light source positioned above said conveying means at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the top panel of said closures for illuminating the top panel of said closures; a light sensing unit positioned above said conveying means at an acute angle with respect to said horizontal plane less than the angle of spectral reflection from said closures for sensing light scattered from said closures, said light sensing unit comprising, a support tube, a phototransistor mounted within said support tube, a lens system mounted within said support tube for focusing scattered light on said phototransistor, and a filter mounted on said support tube to remove all scattered radiation above 7500 Angstroms before said scattered radiation impinges on said phototransistor; electronic logic and discrimination means connected to said light sensing unit to give an output signal upon receipt of an indication of light scattering above and below a preset value; and rejection means connected to said electronic logic and discrimination means and operable upon receipt of an output signal from said electronic logic and discrimination means for rejecting closures exhibiting light scattering above and below said preset value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
214 words
Apparatus for sorting metal closures having painted top panels comprising, in combination: means for conveying a plurality of closures in single file; a light source positioned above said conveying means at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the top panel of said closures for illuminating the top panel of said closures; a light sensing unit positioned above said conveying means at an acute angle with respect to said horizontal plane less than the angle of spectral reflection from said closures for sensing light scattered from said closures, said light sensing unit comprising, a support tube, a phototransistor mounted within said support tube, a lens system mounted within said support tube for focusing scattered light on said phototransistor, and a filter mounted on said support tube to remove all scattered radiation above 7500 Angstroms before said scattered radiation impinges on said phototransistor; electronic logic and discrimination means connected to said light sensing unit to give an output signal upon receipt of an indication of light scattering above and below a preset value; and rejection means connected to said electronic logic and discrimination means and operable upon receipt of an output signal from said electronic logic and discrimination means for rejecting closures exhibiting light scattering above and below said preset value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |