Mettler-Toledo Safeline Limited

Tna Australia Pty Limited

Daren Butterworth

Alfred Alexander Taylor

Andrew John Blackburn

Darren Ken Alchin

Tim Mills

Paul Ellison

Andrew Blackburn

A metal detection apparatus () is tested with a test device () having at least one test article (), movable through a detection zone (). The test article is moved through the detection zone along a first transfer axis (ca) and a first input signal is measured. A first threshold (th) is determined, where an amplitude of the first input signal exceeds the first threshold (th). Then, an identical test article is moved through the detection zone along a further transfer axis (ta; . . . ) and a further input signal is measured and a further threshold (th; . . . ) is determined, where an amplitude of the further input signal exceeds the further threshold (th; . . . ). The first or further threshold (th; th; . . . ) is selected in the signal processing path () whenever the test article is moved along the related transfer axis (ca; ta; . . . ).

Method for testing a metal detection apparatus and metal detection apparatus

A stable assembly of a metal detector is disclosed which can ensure a tension free physical connection between a former and a case of the metal detector. The metal detector includes a case with at least four closed sides and two openings, a non-conductive former having a pass-through aperture, and electromagnetic coils arranged on the former to produce an electromagnetic field within the former which is disturbed by a metallic body passing through the aperture. The former formed into a single piece and having a width equal to the inner width of the case, is inserted into the case from the front side of the case. The space between the former and the case is filled with a potting medium. The physical connection between the former and the case includes a protruding-recess which is strengthened by an adhesive.

Metal detector assembly and method of assembling a metal detector

A metal detector () has a metallic enclosure () with entrance and exit apertures (). A coil system inside the enclosure has an energized transmitter coil. First and second receiver coils () bound a detection zone () between the apertures, through which inspected objects () travel. The receiver coils are on opposite sides of the transmitter coil, with regard to the direction of travel (). The receiver coils are connected in series, but their windings are wires oppositely in a rotational sense. Metal contamination in the object generates a detection signal in the receiver coils. A first and second flange (), arranged at the entrance and exit, cancel the undesirable influence of metal contamination beyond a first distance upstream of and a second distance downstream of the coil system. The respective flanges differ from each other and, consequently, the first and second distances are different.

Metal detector for production and packaging lines

A metal detector () has a metallic enclosure () with entrance and exit apertures () whose cross-sectional areas differ from each other. Inside the enclosure is a coil system with a transmitter coil () and first and second receiver coils (). The apertures and the coil system enclose a detection zone () around a travel path on which objects under inspection move. The asymmetric detection zone has a variable cross-section along the travel path and the coils differ in size from each other. The receiver coils are connected in series, but their windings are wired with the opposite sense of rotation relative to each other. Energizing the transmitter coil generates a primary electromagnetic field that induces a first voltage and a second voltage in the corresponding receiver coils. Despite the asymmetry, the respective voltages cancel each other when no metal is present in the object investigated.

Growing community of inventors

Manchester, United Kingdom

Daren Butterworth