Campbell Soup Company

George R Weaver

Walter W Egee

Wolf A Von Lersner

Thomas K Simpson

Edward W Cheeseman

A system for verifying that the proper ingredient-containing transport containers have been assembled at a particular soup-blending kettle, in which a hole-coded metal key is permanently affixed to each container and provided with an array of machine-readable holes corresponding to a number unique to each container. At the ingredient-dispensing station, a key-reader reads out the identifying number of the container and transmits it to that kettle station to which the container is to be delivered. The transport container is then delivered to the kettle station, where the key code is again machine read; the container number thus read out at the kettle station is compared with that previously transmitted from the ingredient-dispensing station, and if they both represent the same number then the proper container has been delivered to the kettle station and its contents are dumped into the kettle. To prevent dumping of ingredients of a 'wrong' container, the container can be locked at the dispensing station and only unlocked at the kettle station in response to a control signal indicative of identity between the remotely-read key and the key read at the kettle occurs. In other cases an unlocked transport container is delivered onto an automatic dumper, which is enabled only in response to an indication by the control signal that the proper container is present.

Method and apparatus for assembling food ingredients

A check is provided of the gas pressure in a closed container having in its bottom wall a snap-action diaphragm of a type which assumes its concave-inward configuration when there is a vacuum of at least a predetermined level in the container, and assumes its convex-outward configuration when the vacuum level in the container is zero or less than said predetermined level. A test stand applies to the exterior of the diaphragm a vacuum sufficient normally to assure that it will assume its convex outward configuration, and then releases the applied vacuum to permit the diaphragm to snap to its concave-inward configuration. A proximity sensor produces an electrical signal representing the position of the diaphragm, which signal is differentiated to produce a signal indicating the speed of inward motion of the diaphragm. The differentiated signal is compared with a reference, and if it exceeds the reference, produces an indication that the inward snap-action has occurred and that the vacuum level in the container is adequate. The arrangement is applied to the high-speed checking of food containers for gas leaks.

Method and apparatus for sensing gas pressure in a container

In an object weighing system, apparatus for automatically adjusting the zero-reference value of a weight-representing signal to a desired value equal to that signal level which would produce an indication of zero weight by the system. To accomplish this, the absolute value of the signal is detected and applied to a voltage-to-frequency converter, the pulses from which are counted in an up/down binary counter only when no object is being weighed; the direction of count is controlled by a polarity-representing signal applied to the voltage-to-frequency converter. The instantaneous running count in the counter is applied to a digital-to-analog converter, to produce a correction signal of substantially the same magnitude as the amount by which the zero-reference value departs from said desired value. This correction signal is combined with the unadjusted weight-representing signal in the polarity to drive the zero-reference value toward said desired value. Between successive non-weighing intervals, the feedback loop through the automatic zero-correction circuit is held open, but the previously-attained count and correction voltage are maintained, so that the zero-reference value of the weight-representing signal is also maintained at the desired value during the weighing intervals. The same pulses used for the automatic zero correction are also counted during the weighing intervals by another counter to produce signals indicative of the weight of the object being weighed.

Automatic zero-correction for weighing system

Apparatus is disclosed for selecting at random one out of any predetermined number of articles passing along a conveyor line for the purpose of removing that selected article from the conveyor line for inspection. The apparatus consists of two separate repeating counters both of which are set to repeat their count and emit a signal upon the completion of a count equal to the aforesaid predetermined number of articles. An article sensor adjacent the conveyor senses each article passing along the conveyor and transmits an impulse to the first counter. A high frequency oscillator, preferably producing impulses at least ten to the fifth power times faster than the article sensor, normally transmits impulses to the second counter. Switching mechanism is provided through which the impulses from both the article sensor and the oscillator may pass. When the first counter reaches its preselected count the switching mechanism is actuated to interrupt the transmittal of impulses from the high frequency oscillator to the second counter and substitute for those high frequency impulses the impulses from the package sensor. When the total count on the second counter reaches the aforesaid predetermined number after the initial actuation of the switching mechanism, the switching mechanism is again actuated to return to its original condition and the article which caused completion of the count on the second counter is ejected from the conveyor for inspection.

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Maple Shade, NJ, United States of America

George R Weaver