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:
Mar. 08, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 26, 2002
Craig A. Birckbichler, Chicora, PA (US);
Sudha C. Jebadurai, Poland, OH (US);
Georg V. Wolfe, Butler, PA (US);
Ronald A. Puvak, Butler, PA (US);
William E. Schmidt, Gibsonia, PA (US);
Craig A. Birckbichler, Chicora, PA (US);
Sudha C. Jebadurai, Poland, OH (US);
Georg V. Wolfe, Butler, PA (US);
Ronald A. Puvak, Butler, PA (US);
William E. Schmidt, Gibsonia, PA (US);
AGR International, Inc., Butler, PA (US);
Abstract
A method of inspecting wall thickness of blow-molded plastic containers includes providing a blow-molder having a plurality of molds and a plurality of associated spindles. The containers are inspected by impinging infrared light thereon and detecting the portion of the infrared light that passes through the container and converting the same into corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a microprocessor. The microprocessor compares the electrical signals with stored information regarding desired wall thickness of the container and emits output thickness information. The microprocessor receives signals from sensors associated with the blow-molder relating to the position of the molds, the identity of the molds and the identity of the spindles in order that the wall thickness information that is determined by inspection can be associated with specific molds and spindles. The wall thickness information may be averaged over a period of time or a number of containers. The information may be visually displayed so as to provide feedback regarding the inspection process. In a preferred embodiment wall thickness measurements are taken at several vertically spaced positions simultaneously. Corresponding apparatus is provided.