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:
Aug. 24, 2010
Filed:
Apr. 21, 2008
Craig Alan Birckbichler, Chicora, PA (US);
Sudha Christy Jebadurai, Poland, OH (US);
Georg V. Wolfe, Butler, PA (US);
Ronald A. Puvak, Butler, PA (US);
William E. Schmidt, Gibsonia, PA (US);
Craig Alan Birckbichler, Chicora, PA (US);
Sudha Christy 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 and apparatus for manufacturing and inspecting plastic containers. The apparatus may comprise a blow-molder comprising a plurality of molds and spindles for forming a plastic container from a preform. The apparatus may also comprise an inspection device, located in the blow-molder, for inspecting the plastic container after formation by the blow-molder. The inspection device may comprise (i) two or more light energy sources for directing light energy from an exterior of the plastic container toward the plastic container after formation of the plastic container by the blow-molder, and (ii) two or more light energy sensors, each light energy sensor operatively associated with one of the light energy sources, wherein each light energy sensor is for sensing a portion of the light energy that passes through of the plastic container and generating a signal from the sensed portion of the light energy that passes through the plastic container that is related to the light energy absorbed by the plastic container. The apparatus may also comprise a transfer arm in the blow molder for transporting the plastic container along the transport path through the inspection device. The apparatus may also comprise a microprocessor in communication with the inspection device for (i) determining a container attribute of the plastic container based on the signals related to the light energy absorbed by the plastic container; and (ii) determining the mold involved in formation of the plastic container based on at least one signal received by the microprocessor.