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:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
May. 13, 1999
Kiyoshi Yagita, Minato-ku, JP;
Hirotsugu Kobayashi, Minato-ku, JP;
Scan Technology Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
For use in the production line for manufacturing a liquid product such as a beverage or a liquid drug, a system is provided for detecting foreign matter contained in the fluid which is being conveyed at high speed in a conduit and automatically removing the same. The system comprises an inspection station which is connected to the conduit and of which the inspection window for detecting foreign matter is made of at least a transparent material, an illuminating means for illuminating the subject to be inspected with light directed through the inspection station, an imaging means for picturing the subject to be inspected by directing an intensity of light to the inspection window and receiving transmission or reflection of the light, a detecting means for comparing the signal level where a part indicative in which the level of the video signal is sharply changing is emphasized and processed with a reference level for the subject to be inspected to detect the foreign matter contained in the fluid. When the foreign matter is detected by the detecting means, the fluid is temporarily switched to a branch of the tubular conduit by the open and close action of a control valve to systematically discharge a portion of the fluid where the foreign matter is present.