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:
Jul. 03, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 21, 2000
James A. Ringlien, Maumee, OH (US);
Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc., Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for inspecting the sealing surface area of a container finish that includes a light source positioned to direct a collimated line-shaped light beam (i.e., having a length dimension many times a width dimension) onto the sealing surface area of a container. The line-shaped light beam at the container sealing surface area has a long dimension orthogonal to the container axis, and a narrow dimension tangential to the container axis. A light sensor is disposed to receive portions of the line-shaped light beam reflected from the sealing surface area, and provides an electrical output signal that varies with height or level of the sealing surface area with respect to the light source and sensor. A lens system is disposed to direct onto the light sensor only light energy reflected from the container sealing surface area in planes parallel to the common plane of the container axis and the sensor. The lens system and sensor together comprise a full imaging system for light energy reflected from the sealing surface in planes parallel to the common plane of the container axis and the sensor, but which is substantially immune from stray reflections, including reflections from other points on the container, that are not parallel to this plane.