Patent US3770969A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3770969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended containers
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-09
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended containers wherein a beam of radiant energy to which the container is transparent is directed through the open end of the container to illuminate the bottom wall. The beam is further directed against a screen to produce a darkened image of the defect on the screen. The image of the screen is then analyzed by an image scanning device to produce a reject signal when a defect is present.
Inventors
- 👤 R Ansevin
- 👤 E Avetta
- 👤 Kay W Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/90; G01N21/9045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for inspecting the bottom wall of hollow openended articles for defects which comprises means for moving the articles successively and continuously in a predetermined path past an inspection station, means at the inspection station for directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent against the bottom wall of the article, a screen positioned adjacent the bottom wall of the article for creating an image of the bottom wall on the screen with an image of the defect present in the bottom wall, and means for analyzing successive portions of said image to determine the presence of a defect.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for inspecting the bottom wall of hollow openended articles for defects which comprises means for moving the articles successively and continuously in a predetermined path past an inspection station, means at the inspection station for directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent against the bottom wall of the article, a screen positioned adjacent the bottom wall of the article for creating an image of the bottom wall on the screen with an image of the defect present in the bottom wall, and means for analyzing successive portions of said image to determine the presence of a defect.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 including means for creating a reject signal when said analyzing means detects the presence of a defect.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said image creating means comprises a lens system interposed between said articles and said screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said lens system comprises collecting lens means and imaging lens means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for directing a beam of radiant energy includes a laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for creating an image includes means for collimating said beam and thereafter creating a divergent beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for directing a beam includes a source positioned adjacent the path of the article at one side thereof and mirror means for redirecting the beam into the open end of the article.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for analyzing said image includes collecting lens means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for analyzing said containers includes an image dissecting camera.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 including lens means interposed in the path of said image between said screen and said analyzing means for minifying the image of said screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for analyzing said image is positioned at one side of the path of the container, and mirror means for redirecting the image from said screen toward said analyzing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for analyzing said image comprises raster scanning means and means for compensating for the effect that the scan pattern signals are a maximum in the center of the scan pattern and decrease toward the edges by increasinG the sensitivity of the scan pattern signals toward the edges of the scan.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said compensating means functions to count the scan pattern and modify the scan pattern in accordance with the count.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination set forth in claim 12 including means for producing a threshold signal that has a greater magnitude adjacent the center of the scan pattern than at the edges and means for comparing the scan pattern signal with the threshold signal to produce a reject signal when any scan pattern signal exceeds the threshold signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein said comparing means comprises filtering means for filtering the scan pattern signal and means for adjusting the gain thereof.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended articles for defects which comprises means for directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent against the bottom wall of the article, a screen positioned adjacent the bottom wall of the article to create an image of the bottom wall with an image of the defect present in the bottom wall, and means for analyzing successive portions of said image to determine the presence of a defect.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended articles for defects which comprises means for directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent against the bottom wall of the article, a screen positioned adjacent the bottom wall of the article to create an image of the bottom wall with an image of the defect present in the bottom wall, and means for analyzing successive portions of said image to determine the presence of a defect.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 including means for creating a reject signal when said analyzing means detects the presence of a defect.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said image creating means comprises a lens system interposed between said article and said screen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination set forth in claim 18 wherein said lens system comprises collecting lens means and imaging lens means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for directing a beam of radiant energy includes a laser.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for creating an image includes means for collimating said beam and thereafter creating a divergent beam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for directing a beam includes a source positioned adjacent the path of the article at one side thereof and mirror means for redirecting the beam into the open end of the article.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for analyzing said image includes collecting lens means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for analyzing said containers includes an image dissecting camera.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 including lens means interposed in the path of said image between said screen and said analyzing means for minifying the image of said screen.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for analyzing said image is positioned at one side of the path of the container, and mirror means for redirecting the image from said screen toward said analyzing means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for analyzing said image comprises raster scanning means and means for compensating for the effect that the scan pattern signals are a maximum in the center of the scan pattern and decrease toward the edges by increasing the sensitivity of the scan pattern signals toward the edges of the scan.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination set forth in claim 27 wherein said compensating means functions to count the scan pattern and modify the scan pattern in accordance with the count.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination set forth in claim 27 including means for producing a threshold signal that has a greater magnitude adjacent the center of the scan pattern than at the edges and means for comparing the scan pattern signals with the threshold signal to produce a reject signal when any scan pattern signal exceeds the threshold signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination set forth in claim 29 wherein said comparing means comprises filtering means for filtering the scan pattern signals and means for adjusting the gain thereof.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
241 words
The method of inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously in a predetermined path past an inspection station, directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent through the open end of the container against the bottom wall of the container as the container moves continuously through the inspection station to illuminate the bottom wall, causing a defect in the bottom wall to redirect a portion of the beam, creating an image of the bottom wall whereby a defect produces a localized change in the illumination of the image, analyzing said image, and producing a reject signal when said analysis evidences the presence of a defect, said step of analyzing said image comprising analyzing successive portions of said image to produce scan pattern signals, the step of analyzing successive portions of the image is by a raster scan and including the step of compensating for the effect that the scan pattern signals are a maximum in the center of the scan pattern and decrease toward the edges by increasing the sensitivity of the scan pattern signals toward the edges of the scan, the step of producing a threshold signal that has a greater magnitude adjacent the center of the scan pattern than at the edges and comparing the scan pattern signals with the threshold signal to produce said reject signal when any scan pattern signal exceeds the threshold signal.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
241 words
The method of inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously in a predetermined path past an inspection station, directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent through the open end of the container against the bottom wall of the container as the container moves continuously through the inspection station to illuminate the bottom wall, causing a defect in the bottom wall to redirect a portion of the beam, creating an image of the bottom wall whereby a defect produces a localized change in the illumination of the image, analyzing said image, and producing a reject signal when said analysis evidences the presence of a defect, said step of analyzing said image comprising analyzing successive portions of said image to produce scan pattern signals, the step of analyzing successive portions of the image is by a raster scan and including the step of compensating for the effect that the scan pattern signals are a maximum in the center of the scan pattern and decrease toward the edges by increasing the sensitivity of the scan pattern signals toward the edges of the scan, the step of producing a threshold signal that has a greater magnitude adjacent the center of the scan pattern than at the edges and comparing the scan pattern signals with the threshold signal to produce said reject signal when any scan pattern signal exceeds the threshold signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method set forth in claim 31 wherein said comparing step is achieved by filtering the scan pattern signals and adjusting the gain thereof.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
152 words
The method of inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously in a predetermined path past an inspection station, directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent through the open end of the container against the bottom wall of the container as the container moves continuously through the inspection station to illuminate the bottom wall, causing a defect in the bottom wall to redirect a portion of the beam, creating an image of the bottom wall whereby a defect produces a localized change in the illumination of the image, analyzing said image, and producing a reject signal when said analysis evidences the presence of a defect, said step of analyzing saidimage comprising analyzing successive portions of said image to produce scan pattern signals, the successive portions of said image being scanned transversely to the direction of movement of the articles.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
152 words
The method of inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended articles which comprises moving the articles successively and continuously in a predetermined path past an inspection station, directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent through the open end of the container against the bottom wall of the container as the container moves continuously through the inspection station to illuminate the bottom wall, causing a defect in the bottom wall to redirect a portion of the beam, creating an image of the bottom wall whereby a defect produces a localized change in the illumination of the image, analyzing said image, and producing a reject signal when said analysis evidences the presence of a defect, said step of analyzing saidimage comprising analyzing successive portions of said image to produce scan pattern signals, the successive portions of said image being scanned transversely to the direction of movement of the articles.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
211 words
The method of inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended articles which comprises directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent through the open end of the container in a diverging path against the bottom wall of the container, causing a defect in the bottom wall to redirect a portion of the beam, creating an image of the bottom wall whereby a defect produces a localized change in the illumination, and producing a reject signal when said localized change evidences the presence of a defect, said step of analyzing said image comprising analyzing successive portions of said image to produce scan pattern signals, the step of analyzing successive portions of the image is by a raster scan and including the step of compensating for the effect that the scan pattern signals are a maximum in the center of the scan pattern and decrease toward the edges by increasing the sensitivity of the scan pattern signals toward the edges of the scan, the step of producing a threshold signal that has a greater magnitude adjacent the center of the scan than at the edges and comparing the scan pattern signals with the threshold signal to produce said reject signal when any scan pattern signal exceeds the threshold signal.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
211 words
The method of inspecting the bottom wall of hollow open-ended articles which comprises directing a beam of radiant energy to which the article is transparent through the open end of the container in a diverging path against the bottom wall of the container, causing a defect in the bottom wall to redirect a portion of the beam, creating an image of the bottom wall whereby a defect produces a localized change in the illumination, and producing a reject signal when said localized change evidences the presence of a defect, said step of analyzing said image comprising analyzing successive portions of said image to produce scan pattern signals, the step of analyzing successive portions of the image is by a raster scan and including the step of compensating for the effect that the scan pattern signals are a maximum in the center of the scan pattern and decrease toward the edges by increasing the sensitivity of the scan pattern signals toward the edges of the scan, the step of producing a threshold signal that has a greater magnitude adjacent the center of the scan than at the edges and comparing the scan pattern signals with the threshold signal to produce said reject signal when any scan pattern signal exceeds the threshold signal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method set forth in claim 34 wherein said comparing step is achieved by filtering the scan pattern signals and adjusting the gain thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |