The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 16, 1991
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1990
Harry W Lee, Jr, Bon Air, VA (US);
Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, VA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for automatically inspecting containers at an increased rate is characterized by simultaneous inspection of adjacent containers by a plurality of photosensors. Containers are moved in series order along a prescribed path through an inspection area. Exterior surfaces of containers are illuminated; openings in the container bodies permit light to be transmitted to a photosensor through a viewing window in an opaque disk which shields unwanted light from the sensor. Photosensors are arranged to receive light in parallel overlapping paths. Optical units including lens and optic fiber bundles direct light from successively tested containers to different sensing paths. In an alternative embodiment, the disk has a split window configuration permitting successively tested containers to be detected by alternate sensors.